Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) leader Bandhu Tirkey's remark on cow sacrifice sparked a war of words in the political circles. Criticising Tirkey's announcement that he will sacrifice a black cow in February next year, the Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP) said that sacrificing a cow has never been a tradition among the tribal culture as other animals and birds like pig or hen have been sacrificed by the tribal on some specific occasions.
"Being a tribal, I can say that sacrificing a cow was never a tradition of the tribal population in this State," said Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda here on Friday. Tirkey has been trying to misguide the people about tribal culture just to get political mileage, he added.
Bandhu while talking to the media persons on Thursday had announced that he will sacrifice a black cow at his native place in Banhara on February 17 and challenged the State Government to do whatever it feels like to stop him. The JVM in a press release, however, has termed it his personal views which and the party has nothing to do with it.
"It is an attempt to spread communal tension for getting political gains as he does not have any right to say anything about Sarna-Sanatan community as he is a Christian. He is trying to misguide the people in the garb of culture and traditions of Sarna community," said BJP General Secretary Deepak Prakash
Meanwhile, talking to the media persons at State BJP headquarters, Munda said that workers of BJP ST Morcha will organize a 'padyatra' from the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda at Ulihatu in Khunti on November 14 after performing puja from there in a traditional way.
"The 'padyatra' will be flagged off by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Juel Oraon along with Minister of State Sudarshan Bhagat. Thousands of workers of BJP ST Morcha, will start the 'padyatra' with earthen 'kalash' in their hands in a traditional way," said Munda. It will be welcomed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das and State BJP President laxman Gilua at Birsa Chowk in Ranchi at 10 am on November 15, he added.
"Kalash will finally be handed over to President Ram Nath Kovind," said the Minister. The padyatra will be organized under the programme 'Chale Goan ki Ore' and will continue all over the State throughout the month, he added.
The programme will be conducted for 5 days in each of the districts and will be concluded in Dumka.