The State BJP unit enthused with emphatic win in Rajya Sabha elections held on June 19, has now set its eyes on the by-polls in Dumka and Bermo. The party has decided to reach out to people in these two Assembly constituencies with issues such as atrocities against tribals in Hemant Soren Government and benefits State will get with the Centre going for commercial mining of coal blocks.
The State BJP believes that atrocities against tribals has gone up after JMM/Congress government headed by Hemant Soren came to power, at the same time the State Government by opposing coal blocks auctioning for commercial use is to snatch the economical benefits tribals will get from coal blocks auctioning.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP and party state vice president Samir Oraon said, “Atrocities against tribals and State Government opposition to coal blocks auctioning will be core issue in the by-election at Dumka and Bermo. In January this year seven tribals were killed at Burugulikera forest in Chaibasa district by suspected Pathalgadi supporters, atrocities against tribals has also occurred in Lohardaga and Sisai. More recently Ramehswar Murmu the sixth descendent of martyrs Sido Kanho was killed in Barhait.”Oraon claimed that while on one hand JMM and Congress claims to be well wisher of tribals but incidents against tribals and moolvasi has gone up. Interestingly, Chief Minister Hemant Soren represents Barhiat in Assembly.
The party has also decided to raise the benefits state especially tribals and moolvasi will get after the auctioning of coal blocks for commercial use. The BJP Rajya Sabha MP said, “The JMM/Congress government do not want the economic development of tribals and so they are opposing coal blocks auctioning.” He said, “State will get Rs 15,000 crore from coal blocks auctioning at the same time it will generate 50,000 job opportunities.”
However, JMM claims that with coal blocks auctioning for commercial use tribals and moolvasi will be uprooted from their land. JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “Centre and BJP is misguiding people of this State on coal blocks auctioning. BJP is saying that coal blocks auctioning will create employment opportunities but at the same time they should clear it that the new mining will lead to displacement of nearly 60,000 people from their village and will make them homeless.”
Sources said that as Dumka is Scheduled Tribe reserve seat both the alliance (BJP and JMM) will try to raise tribals issue. The Dumka seat fall vacant after Chief Minister Hemant Soren who won the seat decided to retain Barhait seat. Sources said that BJP is going to field former minister Louis Marandi from Dumka while from JMM either Hemant’s brother Basant or his wife Kalpana Soren is going to contest the election. Bermo seat which fall vacant due to death of Rajendra Prasad Singh Congress is claimant of seat. While in NDA camp there is tussle between BJP and AJSU party for the seat.