RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept.27: Mandar MLA and newly appointed state executive president of Congress party Bandhu Tirkey today extended open support to the union government-sponsored Eklayva Vidyalaya at the birthplace of tribal icon Veer Budhu Bhagat at Silagain and expressed his concern over the agitation being organised to protest against the project.
‘Those staging demonstration against the Eklavya Vidyalaya projects are enemy of tribals. They are misleading the tribals saying that the project is an attempt to usurp the land of Veer Budhu Bhagat Smarak Samiti,” Tirkey said organising a press conference at his official residence at Morabadi.
The press conference was organised the day after a section of tribals staged a demonstration on NH-23 and disrupted vehicular movement for hours to protest against the project.
Tirkey said: “The project land where the Eklavya Vidyalaya is being established was demarcated for the project in 2018. That time I was not an MLA. But despite that I want the project to come as it is in the interest of the tribes. It will pave the path of development of poor tribals and generate job opportunity for locals,” Tirkey said.
Questioning the integrity of those agitating against the project Tirkey asked: “Where were they when the land was being demarcated for the project? Where were they when measurement work was going on? Where were they when the decision for the project was being taken? Where were they when the villagers extended their open support to the project?”
Tirkey said the agitation started after the visit of union minister Arjun Munda.
“One should not agitate against a union minister coming to the village to give something to the villagers. Though I am not a follower of the BJP despite that I am against those who are agitating against it. This is foolishness,” Tirkey said.
Tirkey asked the agitators to come forward for an open discussion on the matter instead of staging demonstrations on the road.
“Those who do not want this project should openly tell the government to enable it to decide what step is required to be done but disturbing common people by provoking tribal sentiment is wrong,” Tirkey said.
Eklavya Vidyalaya Project is a project of establishing an English medium residential school for tribal people, where quality education will be provided free of cost. The school at Silagain will be spread in a 20-acre area.
