The Jharkhand Assembly of ongoing Monsoon Session on Wednesday witnessed ruckus over sloganeering of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. BJP legislators from Bokaro, Viranchi Narayan raised the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, which soon was followed by other lawmakers, State Urban Development Minister CP Singh and Minister of Labour, Employment and Training Raj Paliwar. The lawmaker went on chanting the slogan as the JMM MLAs were demanding Government’s stand on proposed amendments to the Indian Forests Act, 1927. The House was adjourned twice on the issue.

As the session started, JMM MLA Kunal Sarangi from Baharagora through Calling Attention Motion demanded for government’s stand on proposed amendments to the Indian Forests Act. Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Hemant Soren demanded State Government to clear its stand in the House. However, the Speaker refused to entertain Opposition’s demand stating that House is not right forum to discuss on the issue which is sub-judice at country’s Apex Court.

However, despite Speaker’s refusal, the JMM lawmakers kept on demanding Government’s stand on the issue. Soren said, “The Union government was sharpening its axe with a new amendment to the Indian Forest Act (IFA) 1927. But, due to large scale protest from environmentalist, human and social right activists the Supreme Court has put stay on its earlier order. At the same time the SC had directed all States to submit an affidavit clearing their stand on the proposed amendment.”

Echoing the views of Soren, Congress legislator from Lohardaga, Sukhdeo Bhagat said, “States such as Jharkhand having high forest cover will be badly affected with the proposed amendments as around 13 lakh Adivasi (tribal) will be displaced from their home (forest). We request the Government to disclose their stand on the proposed amendment.”

Intervening on the issue, BJP MLA from Chhatrapur and party Chief Whip in Assembly Radha Krishna Kishore said, “The Leader of Opposition has stated that the matter is with Apex Court in such circumstances how house can have a discussion on the issue. By demanding a discussion on the issue it is evident that Opposition has no faith on judiciary and Supreme Court.” The Opposition member demanding Government stand on the issue reached the well of the house, later the Speaker adjourned the proceedings.

Outside the Assembly, the war of words between ruling party legislators and Opposition member continued on the issue. Minister of Revenue and Land Reforms Amar Kumar Bauri said, “It was not the ruling party legislators who first raised the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. The BJP members resorted to ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan after JMM legislator from Torpa, Paulus Surin said that ‘Jai Shri Ram’ won’t work in the Assembly.”

Urban Development Minister CP Singh said that ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is in their mind, heart and soul. He said, “If the house was adjourned due to sloganeering of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ then it is not a big issue.”

However, Congress legislator from Jamtara Irfan Ansari said, “ Shri Ram is Maryada Purushottam whose life is ideal for all, but the BJP MLAs by restoring to ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan inside the House are restoring to dirty politics. The Saffron party members go for such type of act whenever election approaches with an aim to disturb communal harmony in State.”