RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 23: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who avoided to speak on the recruitment policy throughout the budget session, opened his mind on the concluding day on Thursday, saying the retreat on the 1932 khatiyan-based policy was strategic.
Reiterating his commitment to enact 1932 Khatiyan-based local policy again in the state, he maintained: “1932 Hamara Tha, Hai aur Rahega”.
The Opposition has been cornering the chief minister since the budget session began on the new job policy which had opened 40 percent jobs for all categories, after the Jharkhand High Court trashed his 2021 policy as “unconstitutional.” The 60 percent of jobs are already reserved for various categories of underprivileged classes.
When the Opposition created uproar in the Assembly seeking the CM to clarify his stand on the new 60:40 job policy, the Speaker, after a business advisory committee meeting on March 16, pacified it, saying the CM will speak on the recruitment policy according to his convenience in the house.
“Yah (Hemant) Sher Ka Baccha Hai, Lambi Chalang Se Pahle Do Kadam Piche Aaya Hai (This (Hemant) is a cub of a lion, has taken two steps back before the long jump),” he said.
However, the BJP legislators were not convinced with the chief minister’s statement on the matter and boycotted the house.
Explaining the circumstances under which he compromised with the policy right now, the CM said BJP member (Ramesh Hansda) had knocked the door against the policy.
He, during his speech, said he was aware of the hurdle. Explaining how he said there are tribals and moolvasis in the opposition but they are in the role of a robot which works according to the direction of seniors.
“Vipaksh Mein Bhi Kuch Adivasi Aur Moolvasi Hain Lekin Ye Bhi Kahin Na Khin Robot Ki Bhumika Mein Hain Jo Uper Ke Kahme Par Chalte Hain,” Soren said.
Clarifying his stand on the 1932 policy, he pointed fingers on the intention of the opposition saying that they should tell clearly whether they are with 1985 or 1932. Apart from this, he also questioned the role of the Ajsu party on the issue saying why the party did not bring the policy when its party man was a minister of concerned department. He asked the Ajsu to shun the politics of convenience.
Soren alleged the BJP of paving the path for outsiders in government jobs and presented example of former education minister Neera Yadav’s constituency where, according to him, 47 of the 173 appointed for teaching job are from UP and Bihar.
Soren, on the occasion, counted achievements of his government and pointed out loop holes in the union government policies.
Taking strong exception to the jail term to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, he said ‘Mother of Democracy Ko Father of Power Ne Kuchal Dala Hai….(Father of Power had mowed down the mother of democracy).” He said there is no freedom of speech in the country and those exercising the freedom are being jailed.
He also mentioned ‘step motherly’ treatment of the union government with non-BJP ruled states and said the chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states are not allowed to go to foreign land. “A state minister does not get due respect in a programme presided by a central minister,” he alleged.