RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov.20: Khunti, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda, is fast turning into a centre of politics in Jharkhand. Back to back visit of national level leaders like union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda, union tourism minister G. Kishan Reddy and senior congress party leader Shashi Tharoor at the place before giving birth day of tribal icon Birsa Munda status of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas by union cabinet suggests that in days to come the place is likely to influence not only politics of the state but entire country.
A local resident supported the observation saying that the visit of Arjun Munda is nothing unusual as he is parliamentarian from Khunti constituency but visits of Reddy and Tharoor are significant for the locality residents, who used to hardly get any opportunity to see even a state minister regularly despite the place being under developed and under the grip of naxalites.
“Reddy had come accompanying Munda on November 15 when the entire country was observing the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas with prime minister Narendra Modi present at Bhopal. Tharoor, who is also a writer and a diplomat, had come on November 19 to inaugurate a library at Murhu,” the resident said.
Another local resident echoed the same BJP is intent on bringing the place in national map and consolidate his position in the area while congress wants to realign its forces after being defeated by BJP in last parliamentary election.
“Khunti has been even visited by union home minister Amit Shah; former tribal affairs minister Jual Oraon besides others. BJP, which has given proper respect to locality resident Karia Munda in the party, wants to develop a new Khunti which is free from extremist activities. Congress, which used to win parliamentary elections from this constituency, wants to regain its position in the area since Arjun Munda won the election with a margin of very few votes. Thus, the leaders of both the parties miss no opportunity to visit Khunti whenever they get any opportunity,” the resident said.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Nath Shahdeo supported the observation saying as far as BJP is concerned the party has always honoured its words involving tribal freedom fighters. “Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee chose November 15 (Birsa’s birth anniversary) to declare the creation of Jharkhand. Raghubar Das, a chief minister chose the martyr’s village to develop as Adarsh Shaheed Gram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now declared Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas to glorify the Birsa Munda.”
“As far as visits of congress party leaders are concerned they have now started doing lip service after they realised that they could not do anything substantial for Birsa Munda despite remaining in power for more than 40 years,” Shahdeo added.
Congress party spokesperson Alok Dubey also supported the observation saying BJP is trying to boost its image among tribal people while congress is intentional to expose BJP’s anti-tribal deeds among them.
“BJP has won all 2 of the 28 tribal seats in the 2019 assembly election. During parliamentary elections, its weakness in tribal areas was also observed. Even Munda could win his seat by a thin margin. Thus, sensing their poor acceptance among the tribal, the party is image building mode. As far as congress party is concerned, the party has full support of tribal people and the tribal still rely on the party and know that the party will never register a case of treason against them like BJP which did the same during the regime of Raghubar Das.
