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Nishikant Dubey addresses reporters in Dumka on Sunday. (Rajesh Kumar Pandey)
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Dumka, Jan. 13: Godda MP Nishikant Dubey has claimed that the question of domicile or permanent residential status of people in Jharkhand was the bone of contention that eventually led to the collapse of the Arjun Munda government.
The MP, whose anti-JMM stance and statements against party supremo Shibu Soren was also seen as a crucial factor that compelled the latter to withdraw support to the BJP-led coalition on Monday, raked up the domicile issue at a newsmeet here today.
Dubey also asked the Congress and RJD to clear their respective stance on the matter.
He stressed that the BJP never intended to discriminate among people on the basis of their residential identity, unlike the JMM.
The JMM, which had sought a written apology from Dubey for criticising Soren, had also placed a demand before chief minister Arjun Munda to base 1932 land records for determining natives.
“Under no circumstances will the BJP agree to introduce a regulation which also violates the 2002 ruling of the Jharkhand High Court that directed uniform domicile status for all citizens of the country,” Dubey said.
He added the Congress and RJD should also clear the air, as the two parties were desperate to form an alternative government with the JMM.
Dubey also did not spare JVM president Babulal Marandi, whose attempts to frame a domicile policy to reserve jobs for tribals and sadans — considered the original settlers of Jharkhand — had resulted in social tension during his stint as chief minister.
“The BJP enabled Marandi to become the first chief minister of Jharkhand despite the presence of heavyweights like Yashwant Sinha and Karia Munda. But he put the state in trouble by introducing an unconstitutional policy. The people won’t spare him.”
Dubey, among a section of the BJP leadership that often favoured breaking the alliance with JMM, said the party cadre in Santhal Pargana heaved a sigh of relief when the coalition split on Tuesday.
The MP added he would also propose amendment of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) and Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act in Parliament.
“It is high time to review the SPT and CNT acts as transfer of land is the need of the hour. There must be legislation to enable non-tribals of the state to purchase and sell their land,” he clarified.
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