The most sensitive issue ever in Jharkhand that was claimed to be on the top priority of the ruling coalition when the government took its shape in July last year, appears too hot to handle for the coalition partners. For, the hurriedly started exercise of the government to make a panel and frame a draft
policy to be discussed in an all party meeting has apparently hit a dead end.
As on date no initiative is being taken by the Government to call an all party meeting to discuss the issue even after the June 26 meeting called by the CM was abruptly cancelled without citing any specific reasons. Just a day ahead of the meeting the Personnel department cancelled the meeting citing “unavoidable circumstances”.
“Though the meeting was postponed and not cancelled, we haven’t got any instructions from the authorities to decide on the next dates for meeting. So far no initiative has been taken from the government. It is the CM would has to take the call,” said a Personnel department officer requesting anonymity.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who had called the meeting, is “busy with other important works” said another senior officer of the government hinting at the helplessness of the government in the matter.
The Domicile Draft Committee members are also clueless about the next dates of the meeting. “I have no idea. I am outside Ranchi and will not be able to say anything on the matter. It is the CM only who will call the shots,” said TMC leader Bandhu Tirkey, whose support to the government was on the condition that he would press for framing the domicile policy paving way for benefit of locals in the future recruitments in government jobs across Jharkhand.
The CM though has kept mum on the issue, people in the corridors of power indicated that the issue was “sensitive” enough to change the mood of voters ahead of the upcoming polls and that was the primary reason of delaying the process on the part of the government.
“There is no information about any meeting on the matter. We are not sure whether it will take before Assembly session or not,” said JMM Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya adding that the draft of the policy need to be carefully assessed by the opposition parties before any sort of meeting.
The draft was distributed among major political parties and leaders on June 20 and the Opposition also appears to be not very keen on doing a discussion or making a political blunder just ahead of polls.
The draft policy is likely to hit public sentiments as the proposed cut off year marked for being a Jharkhandi is said to be 1985. A large number of people have settled in the State after 1985, especially after 2000 when the State was carved out of Bihar.