Political parties have taken differing stands on the expected lines over Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo meeting Governor Droupadi Murmu and handing over a memorandum requesting to disapprove the CNT-SPT amendment Bills pending before her.
The ruling BJP come down heavily against the religious leader while the parties in Opposition camp defended him for his position. “It is his fundamental right to express his views and put any demand within the democratic principles. But his intention was not clear. Acting apart from his religious activities and wasting his time propagating against the BJP is not apt,” said BJP state general secretary Deepak Prakash.
He went on defending the amendments done in the act, saying that the party believed in the legacy of Birsa Munda who fought for safeguarding culture of tribals from foreigners and led a massive revolt.
“Birsa Munda is our ideal and not the culture and custom imported from Rome. A large section of tribals in the State is the member and believer of Sarna society and not the one being propagated by the Cardinal. Thus, he should confine himself to the religious activities,” added the BJP leader.
The Cardinal had a couple of days ago called upon the Governor and submitted a memorandum which appealed her to disallow the amendments proposed in the tenancy acts while terming those detrimental to the interests of the tribals and their rights over land. The Bills being passed by the Assembly in the Winter Session are still pending with the Governor and awaiting her assent before being forwarded to the President via the Union Home Ministry.
However, parties like JMM, Congress and JVM who are already up in arms against the land related amendments have backed the act of the Christian religious leader. “Everyone has a right to express his views and the Cardinal has used his democratic rights. As far as the question of his overstepping into politics through this, I think religious act and social duty are interwoven. He has certain responsibilities towards the society he represents. He has not talked about land belonging to Christians only while sitting in a Church,” said JVM senior leader and vice-president Saba Ahmed.
The party, at the same time, rated the stand of the Cardinal as reflection of the sentiments of the common man. “We have been organising protests across the State over the issue and getting huge support of the masses. What the Cardinal has said is a manifestation of common citizens’ mind in the State. He has just played out his role towards the society,” added Ahmed.
JMM’s Supriyo Bhattacharya also agreed with the Cardinal and termed it a sentiment of the majority in Jharkhand. “He has done right thing by approaching the Governor. We have been saying this and he as a social and religious representative has reflected the larger sentiment,” said the JMM spokesperson.
Congress State president Sukhdeo Bhagat went one step further demanding apologies from the BJP State president laxman Gilua for his criticism of the Cardinal. “Cardinal has said nothing wrong. He reiterated what people think of the CNT-SPT amendments in opposing this move of the Government. The BJP State president should express regret over his remarks against the religious leader,” said Bhagat.
The BJP feels the backing coming from the Opposition parties to the Cardinal is a politics of appeasement. “It is obvious that they are doing vote-bank politics in order to appease a section. They want to grab support of the section,” said Deepak Prakash.