Social organization Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) has demanded from the coalition government to clear its stand on issues like National Population Register (NPR) and National Register for Citizenship (NRC) and demanded that the State Government should take immediate action to prevent the “draconian law” get implemented in the State.
Addressing a press meet noted Economist, Jean Dreze said that the silence of the Jharkhand Government on CAA, NRC and NPR is extremely disappointing. The state looks all set to roll out NPR survey from April, 1. “A Government that claims to represent the poor and marginalised cannot remain oblivious to the danger of NPR and NRC for people of the State. We demand that the Government stop all NPR-related activities in the State,” he added.
He said that Mahasabha and other people’s organisations will organise a dharna at Raj Bhavan on March 5 to demand that the State Government immediately rejects NPR.
The Mahasabha also raised issues like setting up of land bank, starvation deaths, lynching, atrocities on Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims and women, State-sponsored communalism, attacks on the freedom of expression and subversion on traditional self-governance systems of Adivasis. The ruling parties, JMM, Congress and RJD raised these issues during the election campaign.
“Under the Raghubar Das-led BJP Government in Jharkhand saw constant attacks on people’s rights and basic tenets of democracy - attempts to amend local tenancy laws, amendment in the Land Acquisition Act. “The ruling parties, JMM, Congress and RJD raised several of these issues in their election campaign. Their manifestos also included many people’s demands,” said Dreze.
Reminding the State Government the noted Economist said, “The people of Jharkhand clearly rejected the BJP and gave a decisive mandate to grand alliance, led by Hemant Soren, on local issues and demands.
However, the Government is yet to act on most of the issues flagged by the parties in their election campaigns and the promises made in their manifestos Comparison attached.”
Quoting the issues like Pathalgadi the social worker said that the decision of the Government to withdraw all Pathalgadi cases, right after taking office, was a welcome announcement. However, even after two months, it is yet to reflect on the ground, he added.
“Gram Sabha and natural resources are other important issues.
The silence of the Government on two key demands that drove the Pathalgadi movement – implementation of fifth schedule provisions and PESA – is also deafening. Both JMM and Congress promised full implementation of PESA in their manifestos,” said Dreze. In addition, Congress promised cancellation of projects such as Adani power plant project (Godda), Icha-Kharkayi dam (West Singhbhum) and Mandal dam (Palamu) but since coming to power, the Government is silent on these issues, he added.
Mob lynching, Hunger and under nutrition are another serious issues on which the Government is not taking any step to curb this menace, he added.