A huge number of tribals from all across the State marched to Morabadi Ground on Wednesday braving sweltering heat to express their anger against the Raghubar Das Government's move to amend the CNT-SPT Acts.
They were silent, disciplined but determined and filled up sprawling Morabadi ground to its full capacity prompting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to declare the tenancy amendments as the greatest injustice being done to all those residing in Jharkhand.
Addressing tribals and moolvasis coming under the banner of Adivasi Sengal (Empowerment) Abhiyan numbering nearly 50,000, an overwhelmed Nitish used the opportunity to take a jibe on his counterpart in Jharkhand. In a veiled attack, he called for support of one and all in the cause.
"I believe all should speak in one voice on this issue. Those who are not for Jharkhand despite living here could not be of the country as well," he declared and also objected to the decision of the BJP to pick up "a non-Jharkhandi as CM of Jharkhand" though clarifying soon that it was not against the Constitution and may be a prerogative of any party leadership. He also slammed the BJP for breaking the tradition of a tribal heading the government in neighbouring state since its inception in 2000.
Nitish, also apprehensive of the inferences that may be drawn at his support and participation here as his growing political ambitions, clarified that he was working without any lust.
"I am supporting the cause out of sheer humanity and doing this at other places too without any aspiration. I am respecting the mandate given to me in Bihar but would go anywhere where injustice is being done," said the Bihar CM.
Organiser of the rally, former BJP MP Salkhan Murmu termed Nitish another Jai Prakash Narayan and wanted him to be named as a prime ministerial candidate and as the only leader with socialist credentials who can challenge rampaging Narendra Modi in the days to come.
The JD-U leader also later made an appeal to the parties in the Opposition to come along and went on requesting Governor Droupadi Murmu to reject the Bills pending before her.
"The amendments proposed would be the greatest injustice to tribals and moolvasis of the State. CNT and SPT Acts provide a shield to them which they have preserved even during British regime. Farming is the basic occupation of the tribals and the step of the Government is to alienate them with this. I appeal here to all Jharkhandis irrespective of their caste and creed to support the demand and request the Governor who is also a tribal not to give her assent," said the Bihar CM.
Nitish equated the tribal movement with Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagrah which took place exactly 100 years ago, and called on the tribals to work for liquor ban here in Jharkhand in the lines of Bihar.
"Gandhiji came to Champaran in 1917 where the farmers were up against teen kathia system prevailing over there. They were being exploited by the indigo planters. Here the amendments in the CNT-SPT would also do the same to the tribals," said the Bihar CM.
He termed the liquor ban step extremely successful in Bihar and blamed the Jharkhand Government for not lending adequate support in getting it implemented in the bordering areas.
Salkhan disclosing the future strategy of the movement said that they would start blockading tribal MlAs supporting the BJP-led Government. "Starting with Khijri MlA Ram Kumar Pahan we would gherao all the 28 tribal MlAs with the Government asking them the justification of supporting the CNT-SPT amendments. I am not disclosing the date as they would flee away," said the former MP, adding that the incumbent Government should not be continued till 2019. JD-U Rajya Sabha MP Harivansh and former IPS officer Arun Oraon besides, other senior tribal leaders were present on the occasion to support the
cause.