They may not be as ruthless and coming out on the streets against the investors’ extravaganza but most of the party heads sitting in the Opposition are likely to skip the Global Investors Summit (GIS) in protest.
The Government, on its part, has dispatched formal invitations to all the former Chief Ministers and MlAs, cutting across parties to remain present on the occasion which, it feels, is above the politics.
“I received the invitation a day back. At present, I am on a tour of the Palamu region and would remain busy in the area till February 15. We will discuss the matter (of attending) on the party forum though we also feel that the summit is discriminatory to the locals and would only execute the tenancy law amendments done by the Government,” said JVM supremo and first Chief Minister of the State Babulal Marandi.
Similar are the views of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha whose both the top leaders—Shibu Soren and Hemant Soren—have been given invitation cards. “We have received the cards. Hemant Soren would clear the party stand on Tuesday but the feeling within the party is that we should distance ourselves from this anti-people and anti-local programme; entirely a Government sponsored one with its own agenda,” said the party general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya.
Both the parties form major Opposition in the State and have been up in arms against the CNT-SPT amendments done by the Government in the recent time. Their main contention, apart from failures that handful of the previously signed MoUs have seen in the State, is the alleged loot of tribal land.
“We have taken the fight for land to the people now. All the investors who are being called to invest in Jharkhand would seek land which is nowhere! Our apprehensions were right that the amendments done in the tenancy laws are only meant for corporates. The Global Investors Summit has proved it,” said JVM vice-president Saba Ahmed, justifying the boycott.
Most notable omission is likely to be of AJSU chief and three-time former deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto. An important ally in the ruling coalition, the party head is also vice-chairman of the State Development Council (SDC) which is said to be the apex plan making body in place in Jharkhand.
“He had not attended the inaugural meeting of the SDC. He is also very busy and touring the State now a days. Chances of his attending the Summit are very bleak,” said a senior party functionary. Nonetheless, his party colleague who is enjoying ministerial position in the Government, Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, would actively participate in the GIS and lure investors in the areas of sanitation, civic amenities in villages and water resources.
The ruling BJP, on its part, is fully backing the endeavour. “Success of the GIS would go into the kitty of Government and the party. We would be taking the outcomes of the summit to the people after it is over. But, at the same time, we also need support of all the political parties in making Jharkhand affluent and developed. That is why the Government has personally invited all the members of the House for attending the GIS,” said BJP’s chief whip Radha Krishna Kishore.