SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Feb. 14: Two-term BJP MP Salkhan Murmu, heading the Adivasi Senegal (empowerment) Abhiyan, on Tuesday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the tribals from the five states wanted to greet him for ‘realizing the historic achievement of elevating a tribal Santal woman to the highest constitutional post of the President.’
Murmu said that he planned to hold a rally to felicitate Modi. It will be held either in Dumka (Jharkhand) or Kolkata or Baripada (Orissa) with lakhs of tribals from five states of Jharkhand, Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam in attendance on a date fixed by the prime minister.
He said that he has discussed the plan with BJP legislature party leader Babulal Marandi and the latter has agreed to it.
“Modiji had his agenda behind choosing a tribal woman for the top constitutional post. But the Adivasis too had their agenda and wanted to convey it to the prime minister. So, we have invited him to listen to our agenda,” he pointed out. “We want the prime minister to connect with the tribals and take further steps to protect the interests of the tribals,” he added.
Branded by his political rivals as an outsider, Jharkhand born Murmu represented Mayurbhanj constituency in the Lok Sabha from 1998 to 2004. The firebrand tribal leader, during his roller coaster career, after he quit the BJP held different campaigns through several political outfits. He had merged his Jharkhand Dishom Party with the BJP in 2014 at the initiative of former Chief Minister Arjun Munda.
The latest rail roko agitation, launched by his outfit a couple of days back, to stake claim of tribals on Parasnath hills and Sarna code for tribals had a considerable impact in Jharkhand.
“It was in undivided Bihar that I got an opportunity to contest Lok Sabha polls from neighbouring Mayurbhanj but did not stick to it when Jharkhand was created,” he pointed out.
He also maintained that he had always been with the BJP. “Technically I may not be a member of the BJP but I was in the BJP and am in the BJP. I have wholeheartedly supported the cause of the BJP,” he maintained.
Elaborating the agenda, Murmu pointed out that the BJP has taken several steps for the upliftment of tribals. “It created a tribal welfare ministry; national scheduled tribes’ commission; Jharkhand. It included Santhali language in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution,” he pointed out. “Now, we want the BJP to give it a Sarna code,” he said.
On the other hand, Murmu said that the father-son (Shibu Soren-Hemant Soren) has been the chief minister five times but has always cheated tribals. “Not only that. It has recommended Kurmis to be given status of tribals. It has handed over Santhal Pargana in hands of Muslims for vote bank politics. So, the JMM is only into protecting Muslims and Christians, and not tribals,” he maintained.
“Thus we have no options but to fall back on the BJP for promoting tribal interests. At present, protecting tribal interests is our top priority, not the election,” he stressed, adding the rally will be completely apolitical.
