RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov.13: Even as the response of the ruling alliance is not positive to the union government’s step of giving ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ status to the birthday of tribal icon Birsa Munda falling on November 15, the state unit of BJP planned to observe the day at the booth level.
The decision was taken at a state-level meeting of the party office bearers at the BJP state headquarters in Harmu. The party office bearers during the discussion said that the step of the union government is being welcomed by the common people.
Rajya Sabha member and national president of BJP ST front Sameer Oraon said that tribals in the state are feeling glorified by the step of the government of giving the status of “Janjaitya Gaurav Diwas’ to Birsa Munda’s birthday. He said it was for the first time such honour has been given to a tribal who played an important role in the freedom struggle.
Other decisions taken during the meeting included agitation for the demand of Panchayat poll in the state, starting a programme to ensure 100 percent vaccination in the state, exposing the failure of the state government in distributing food grains.
Earlier, former chief minister and BJP legislature party chief Babulal Marandi in the meeting alleged the Congress of promoting the name of family members of Birsa Munda instead of Birsa Munda. He said that before giving ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ status to Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, the BJP had named the airport of Ranchi after Birsa Munda and established Jharkhand on Munda’s birthday.
Party’s organising secretary Dharampal Singh echoed Marandi directing the party workers to observe Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas at the booth level. He also asked them to observe the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Sushasan Diwas.
The decision has been taken in the situation when the JMM and the Congress are not comfortable over the declaration of the day and taking it as a political stunt. JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya during a press conference on Friday expressed the negative attitude of the party on the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas by saying that tribals will be glorified only when the identity of tribal freedom fighters remains safe and which is at the verge of extinction due to developmental projects of the union government.
