Tribal organisations hold a meeting for the bandh called on August 21. Picture By Prashant Mitra

Aug. 19: Economic blockades and a bandh on August 21 in protest against the delimitation commission notification has cast a shadow on an already overcast sky of the state.

While tribal organisations like the Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch and the associations of Parha Raja, Manjhi, Manki, Munda, Parganait, Doklo, Sohor among others have called a state-wide bandh on August 21, student organisations have chipped in with other modes of agitation, including economic blockades.

Leading political parties, too, strongly opposed to any kind of reduction in the number of Assembly and Parliament seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand, have joined ranks.

While JMM has announced an active support to the August 21 bandh, two Left parties — CPM and CPI — have agreed to extend support, said state CPM secretary J.S. Majumdar and CPI state committee member K.D. Singh said in separate statements.

“We will intensify our agitation in phases. Now we are trying to ‘reunite’ all such forces who care for the welfare of Jharkhand. Violent protests in the coming days cannot be ruled out if the government fails to take prompt actions. We might even force boycott of next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,” said Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch chief Jagdish Lohra.

Parha Mahasamiti co-ordinator Deo Kumar Dhan and Jharkhand Janadhikar Party president Ratan Tirkey claimed today’s meeting — called to discuss preparations for the success of the bandh — was attended by senior leaders of JMM, BJP, JD(U), Jharkhand Party, Jharkhand Party (Horo), Sarna Samiti, Chadri Sarna Samiti, Musur Sarna Samiti, Jharkhand Sarna Sangharsh Samiti, Adivasi Buddhijivi Manch and others.

“On August 20 evening, we will take out a torchlight procession at Albert Ekka Chowk and during the bandh on August 21, the tribals will court mass arrests,” said Ratan Tirkey.

“We are waiting for the Union law secretary’s report on delimitation and the Centre’s actions, thereafter. The law secretary is expected to submit his report on August 20. History of sorts will be created, if the Centre ‘hurts’ the sentiment of poor tribals. Our economic blockade will cripple the entire national economy,” said Adivasi Chhatra Sangh chief Chamra Linda.

The Delimitation Commission early this week had issued a notification by which the number of seats reserved for tribals was reduced to 22.

At present, out of the 81 seats, 28 are reserved for schedule tribes.