THE so-called domicile issue, based mainly on the popular demand for complete reservation in the 3rd and 4th grade posts of the state government to the original residents of Jharkhand, has once again rocked the state. It witnessed a successful 48-hour ‘Bandh’ on 26-27 May ‘03, called by ‘Adivasi-Mulvasi Janadhikar Manch as well the newly formed Jharkhand Front, during which police resorted to brutal firing on 27th. This time the igniting spark was the State Government’s decision to recruit 10,000 primary teachers, for which the Jharkhand Public Service Commission announced to hold selection test on 27 May ‘03 and invited applications from trained candidates all over the country, ignoring the demand of the above-said reservation.
On 27 May, thousand of people, mainly tribal youth, took to the street at Ranchi as well as in some other towns of the state, and put up stubborn resistance to the arrogant attitude to the state government and administrative high handedness. The trigger-happy police of the Arjun Munda govt. resorted to indiscriminate-firing in the name of protecting law and order, killing a child and a girl. This evoked a serious protest by the all the parties of Opposition as well as other groups and a series of programs was organised by them. Left parties and their youth organisations also raised serious objection to the fact that Sarswati Shishu Mandir Campus, Dhurwa, Ranchi was chosen as the centre for examining the answer sheets of the selection test. This indicated a high level conspiracy to facilitate the recruitment of RSS cadres in large number. The apprehension gained ground also because the state govt. as well as Sangh Parivar had initiated a malicious propaganda against the Christian community and Christian missionaries, holding them responsible for the unfortunate developments.
The verdict of High Court on this issue clearly mentioned that the State Govt. could adopt a suitable definition of Mulvasis (original residents) in order to facilitate their recruitment in govt. services on priority basis. An all-party meeting convened by the state govt. on 26th of December ‘02 unanimously resolved that original residents of Jharkhand deserve complete reservation in the 3rd and 4th grade govt. services. The meeting also came out with a formulation as to who should be treated as original residents. It was decided to form a committee to sort out legal and other complications. But the Arjun Munda govt., for the reasons best known to it, preferred to overlook the guideline of the Ranchi High Court and the all-party meeting. On the contrary, ministers of the NDA govt. including the CM issued one after another provocative statements and tried their best to block the path of a political settlement.
The story of the latest phase of saffron conspiracy doesn’t end here. The whole month of June ‘03 was marked by the visits of Sankaracharyas of both Kanchi and Puri, the VHP leader Praveen Togaria and the BJP president Venkaiah Naidu. All of them issued malicious statements hurting popular sentiments. Praveen Togaria called for a crusade against Christianity and the Christian community in Jharkhand.
The main features of the latest phase of domiciles controversy have been as follows.
1. In this phase conflict between local and outsider population did not erupt. Barring a few cases of harming the communities coming from other states, the behavior of the agitators was quite mature. The Govt., the State machinery and the centres of examination were their exclusive targets.
2. The battle lines were quite sharp and clear. The NDA and all its ministers stood solidly behind the Govt. decision whereas the entire opposition extended their direct or indirect support to the agitators.
3. As in the past, the tribal youth remained in the forefront of the movement.
4. The ‘Bandh’ received spontaneous support.
5 JMM although did not support the ‘Bandh’, but it tried to show greater political calibre to dominate the scenario particularly after 27th May.
6. Our Party extended its support to the ‘Bandh’ call. This was well taken and the cadres of Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch burnt the effigy of all the MLAs of Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha except Mahendra Singh, our sole representative, on 23 May, ’03.
7. Our party has consistently demanded resumption of the political process initiated on 26 December ‘03. We condemned the police-firing and arrest of the leaders of the movement. We also repudiated the saffron propaganda against religious minorities in connection to this movement. An all left parties delegation met the Jharkhand governor on 3 June handed over a memorandum, asking him to adopt the position mentioned in the memorandum. However, the focus of the delegation was on CBI enquiry into the corruption cases against ministers. They demanded holding of elections to Panchayat in Jharkhand immediately and also a judicial enquiry over the factors responsible for communal flare up in Panki of Palamu district.
Once again our Party has launched ‘Oust BJP, Save Jharkhand’ campaign on 9 June, the martyr’s day of Birsa Munda, that will culminate on 30th of June.
— Subhendu Sen