The annual ‘Kissing Competition’ being supported by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Simon Marandi has yet again attracted wrath of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party as Agriculture Minister Randhir Singh and State BJP Spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo have threatened the leader of action if he organises the competition on December 15 in Pakur.
While the Agriculture Minister gave the warning in a programme in Dhanbad on Sunday, Shahdeo issued a press Statement condemning Marandi for supporting the “vulgar” event. He said that Marandi has made it clear that his party is continuously harming tribal traditions of the State.
Warning Simon Marandi, Shahdeo said that the BJP government this time will not let such a programme take place in the tribal region at any cost. “Supporting such an event shows the corrupt mindset of JMM leader.
He (Marandi) had organised such event last year also and it had attracted nationwide criticism. Looking at the public ire the JMM had issued show cause notice to Marandi last year, but no action was taken against him,” he said.
“This clearly implies that the top leaders of JMM do not consider these competitions against the social norms of the State. Marandi forgets that this is not Rome or London, but the historic place of Jharkhand. Western culture cannot be adopted here,” he said seeking sincere apology from the JMM leader.
While Marandi was unavailable for his comments on the issue, JMM General Secretary and Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that it was nothing, but BJP’s frustration that is coming out like this. “Can you change the culture of the State? It is a tradition among Paharia tribes living since centuries in Pakur,” he said.
“There is nothing new in it. The competition has been happening since long, but when Simon jee was in BJP they did not object to it. May I know why? This is nothing but jealousy of the BJP leaders. They cannot do anything legally. It is just their attempt to hide their own sins,” said Bhattacharya.
Notably, Simon Marandi had participated in the ‘Kissing Competition’ last year in Pakur and was served a show cause notice by the party.
The BJP had then also sought suspension of the Littipara MLA from the Legislative Assembly alleging that he was corrupting the tribal youths.