Recent surge in the cases of land acquisition meant for industries and various other infrastructural projects coming in have provided a new lease of life to emaciated Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM). The party which has been pushed on margins on several occasions in recent times is again in the process to be the leader of the others in this opposition.
Insiders in the party believe that since land has been a sentimental issue and directions of the incumbent Government hint for greater amount of investment coming in, the JVM would go further with the agitation.
“lots of companies are coming to the State like we are hearing about Adani, NTPC and host of others. Mass level land acquisition would take place and people are agitated about that. We have seen steps of the Government in that direction when it went on amending the CNT-SPT Acts despite opposition from inside and outside. There is no doubt that the issue is like a fodder for us,” said JVM vice-president Saba Ahmed while justifying the
agitation of the party at Badkagaon.
JVM chief Babulal Marandi along with Subodh Kant Sahay of the Congress, and RJD’s Gautam Sagar Rana was there at Badkagaon in order to surrender before the police on Thursday. However, the leaders after being detained briefly there were let off by the police citing the ongoing investigation which is expected to complete by August 10.
Marandi nevertheless addressed the gathering there and went hammer and tong against the decision of the NTPC and CCl to acquire raiyati land and charged the companies for not adhering to the land acquisition act in force.
Notably, it was Congress’ former MlA from the constituency Yogender Sao who had been raising the issue from top of his voice along with his MlA wife Nirmala Devi. Moreover, Sao’s proximity with JVM in recent time is not hidden who along with Sahay though was present there but remained in backdrop.
“Marandi ji is, of course, on the path of repairing the party. Since the land related issues are coming in along with altering the tribal land acts and displacing people settled on GM land etc are in hand, he is getting support from the leaders from across the parties in his agitation. The JVM wants to make it a fight for all against the draconian mindset,” said JVM legislator Pradeep Yadav.
However, the Marandi’s party is not alone in taking a lead on the sentimental land and tribal issue. Its major rival in Jharkhand politics, the JMM, has also decided to take the Government on through series of statewide protests and agitations. Interestingly, the bonhomie developed briefly between the JVM and the JMM ahead of the Rajya Sabha election, that went horribly wrong, is nowhere in sight now.