RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.24: Angika, Magahi and Bhojpuri have been included in the list of regional languages for appointment to district level posts but this did not make the BJP happy.
Former education minister and Koderma MLA Neera Yadav made it clear asking how come a person speaking Angika, Magahi, and Bhojpuri be debarred from getting state-level posts when they are allowed to get district level posts.
“Angika, Magahi and Bhojpuri speaking people can stay in any part of Jharkhand and can be eligible for state-level jobs. They cannot be limited to a particular district when the time for giving a job comes,” Yadav said.
Hatia MLA Naveen Jaiswal parried reply in the matter. First, he said he has sought notification of the personnel and administrative department to this effect. “Once I go through the notification, I will comment,” Jaiswal said. When informed Jaiswal that the notification is on the official website of the department, he said ‘he will have to discuss the matter within the party before giving any statement in the matter.’
Ranchi MLA C.P.Singh who is in New Delhi also expressed his concern over the situation. “The BJP does not want to limit Angika, Magahi and Bhojpuri speaking people to a particular district,” Singh said adding when he returns to Ranchi and studies the notification properly he will be able to tell more on the matter.
The notification issued on December 20 suggests that Magahi speaking people has been limited for district-level jobs in Latehar, Chatra, Bokaro, Garhwa and Palamu while Bhojpuri speaking students have been limited to Palamu, Garhwa, Bokaro and Dhanbad. Angika has been limited to Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj, Pakur, and Godda. Unlike the above regional language-speaking people, speakers of other regional languages including Nagpuri, Panchparganiya, Kurmali, Bangla, Odia and Khortha are allowed to get appointments in state-level jobs besides district level jobs.
Former advocate general Ajit Kumar conducting a case in the matter at the high court expressed his concern over the development saying once the high court opens on January 3, he will bring the matter to the notice of the high court.
“The entire exercise is apparently being done to make the issue controversial and find a way to stay the appointment process in the state. Apart from the language issue, the government has also made matriculation and intermediate level education in the state compulsory for intermediate and matriculation level jobs in the state,” Kumar said.
Amid controversy over regional languages, former MP Shailendra Mahto, who is one of the prominent leaders who struggled for a separate Jharkhand state, criticized the Hemant Soren government for including Bhojpuri, Angika, Magahi in the list of regional languages of the state. He through a message on Facebook expressed his concern over the regional language status to the above-mentioned three languages saying the step has ended the identity, and language geography of the state.
