Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday attacked his "non-tribal counterpart" in Jharkhand and appealed to Governor Droupadi Murmu's tribal sentiments by asking her to reject the Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana tenancy Act amendment bills, pending before her, in the larger interests of the state.
Nitish was in the neighbouring state, addressing the Jharkhand Bachao Sarkar Girao Abhiyan rally at Morabadi, a locality in the Jharkhand capital, against tenancy law changes organised by former MP Salkhan Murmu's outfit Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan.
"The Jharkhand governor belongs to tribal society hence I request her not to sign the bills," Nitish said in his 30-minute speech before a 10,000-strong crowd. "Tribals of Jharkhand are peace-loving and innocent. CNT and SPT Acts are the fruits of their fight against the British to protect their land and identity. Today, tribals are facing threat to their existence, tomorrow non-tribals will face a similar situation."
Without directly naming Raghubar Das, his Jharkhand counterpart, Nitish wondered how a non-tribal held the chief minister's post in the neighbouring state.
"The Constitution doesn't bar anybody from becoming the chief minister of any state. But Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar for its distinct tribal identity and to protect tribal interests. What purpose will a separate Jharkhand serve if you install a non-tribal as its chief minister?" Nitish asked, also objecting to Das heading the state's Tribal Advisory Council.
Sharply critical of Jharkhand's "skewed and lopsided industrial, mining and development policies", he said Das "loves media coverage rather than doing meaningful work".
He added that after Jharkhand was formed, he was hopeful that the new state would set development benchmarks but was disappointed. "Now I see tribals and original settlers being throttled and their land and resources grabbed only because they are peace-loving and innocent," said Nitish, while asking Jharkhand to impose prohibition.
"Bihar has changed after prohibition, people's lives have changed," he said. "I am not bothered by revenue loss because the happiness and prosperity of the people is more important."
