Ranchi: Sudesh Mahto’s Ajsu Party, an ally of the ruling BJP, Tuesday came out in support of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo for meeting Governor Droupadi Murmu at Raj Bhavan to express the Church’s concerns over the amendments to the Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana tenancy acts.
Although party spokesman Deo Sharan Bhagat refused to be drawn into the controversy sparked by the BJP and RSS’s adverse comments against the Cardinal, he said that several BJP heavyweights, also known to be closely associated with the Sangh Parivar, were strongly opposed to the amendments.
“In a democracy, everyone has the right to express his or her feelings. The Cardinal did not do anything unlawful by submitting a memorandum to the governor in person. BJP heavyweights like Kariya Munda, one of the senior most members of the Sangh Parivar, and Arjun Munda have also expressed strong reservations against the amendments,” he told the media today.
Bhagat reminded one and all that the Ajsu was strongly opposed to the amendments and had repeatedly apprised the state government about the people’s concerns through various means.
“Our delegations had repeatedly called on the chief minister and the governor. Our representative in the state cabinet had clarified in black and white that these amendments were not acceptable. We also organised special camps across the state and sent postcards addressed to the chief minister stating that amendments in tenancy laws and the local residents’ policy were not in the state’s interests,” he added.
Asked whether the Ajsu was considering withdrawing support to the Raghubar Das government, he said his party did not believe in pulling down an elected government, but added that the Ajsu would be holding a three-day convention in Ranchi beginning March 17 where all issues would be discussed threadbare and future action plans drawn up.
“On March 19, we will be holding an open session, which will be attended by all sections of the party cadre. Over one lakh people are expected to come. Our preparations are nearing completion.
“On March 9, we will be holding our central executive body meeting, where the agenda of the party’s convention would be finalised,” Bhagat said, adding that the party would decide on its future course of action after the convention.
Cardinal Toppo and seven bishops from Jharkhand met Governor Murmu on March 4 and submitted a memo alleging that amendments to the CNT and SPT acts would render trials landless and urged her to ensure the changes weren’t ratified.
Among the bishops who signed the memo were Felix Toppo (Jamshedpur), Vincent Barwa (Simdega), Julius Marandi (Dumka), Paul Lakra (Gumla), Binay Kandulna (Khunti), Anand Jojo (Hazaribagh), and Telesphore Bilung, the auxiliary bishop to the Cardinal.
(Source: Telegraph India)