Jharkhand’s ST, SC and Backward Class Welfare minister Chamra Linda on Tuesday expressed concern over the proposed delimitation of parliamentary and assembly seats and said that population-based allocation of constituencies could result in a "reduction of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes" in the state.
Responding to the grant demand of ST, SC, Minority and Backward Class Welfare Department, departmental minister Chamra Linda raised the issue of delimitation to be held in 2026, on which a long debate took place.
Minister Chamra Linda said that in 2002 there was a BJP government at the Centre. Then preparations were made to reduce six tribal seats under delimitation. At that time Shibu Soren had met the PM and presented his argument. He had said that tribals live in forests and mountains. The population has not decreased there.
He said that the population has not decreased in Sisai and Bishunpur. The population is increasing in cities. Reduce the number of seats there. Then the PM made an amendment in 2008. Because of this Jharkhand was saved. Then delimitation is going to come after 2026. The cooperation of the opposition is necessary to stop this.
As soon as the issue of delimitation was raised, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi said that it is necessary to conduct NRC. The government should take initiative. He said that why has the number of tribals decreased during the census conducted between 1951 and 2011. On the other hand, why has the number of Muslim community increased. It is obvious that if the population of tribals decreases, it will have a far-reaching effect on the seats of Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha as well as jobs.
Babulal Marandi said that we are also in favour of tribal seats not decreasing. But when there is no population, how will a tribal become an MLA. The balance of population is getting disturbed. Therefore, NRC is necessary or the state government should form a committee itself and investigate.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that there is objection to the suggestion of the Leader of Opposition. It may be a matter of concern that the population of tribal society has decreased but the Muslim population has increased, this should not be a matter of concern. This sentiment should be withdrawn.
JMM MLA Hemlal Murmu said that at that time Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee and Lal Krishna Advani had agreed that in the interest of the tribals, a delimitation commission should not be sent to Jharkhand. Because reduction in seats would affect tribal culture. He urged the opposition to take initiative to stop delimitation from being implemented in Jharkhand.
During the debate on delimitation, Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu targeted Babulal Marandi and said that backward classes had 27 percent reservation in Bihar. But during his tenure, the reservation here became 14 percent. Whereas in many districts, OBC reservation became zero. When the census has not been done after 2011, on what basis is the Leader of Opposition saying that the population of tribals has decreased.
Minister Chamra Linda is saying that the population has not decreased in rural areas. How did the population decrease only in cities. Who are the people who came from outside to Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh. Such people have spoiled the demography of Jharkhand.
On this, Babulal Marandi said that in unified Bihar, tribals did not get 26 percent reservation. After the division of the state, the reservation system had to be changed. SC got 10 percent reservation. Since more than 50 percent reservation could not be given, OBC got 14 percent reservation. Still, provision of 73 percent reservation was made. There was a plea for giving 27 percent to OBC but the case fell in the court. All these things are present in the file. In the districts where reservation is zero, the system has been in place since 1991. Therefore, making such allegations that OBC reservation has decreased during my tenure is not correct.
Meanwhile, the grant demand of ST, SC, Minority and Backward Class Welfare Department was passed by voice vote. Before this, Minister Chamra Linda said that the tribal society is fighting for its existence. Now the tune of Mandar is rarely heard. Therefore, Mandar and Nagada will be distributed to all tribal dominated villages.
