Rourkela is also one of the oldest cities in the state. Why are you opposing formation of the Rourkela Municipal Corporation under the banner of Mula Adivasis Milita Manch (a forum of tribals fighting for their lands)?
The Rourkela Municipal Corporation comprises scheduled area (areas inhabited by tribals). This is unconstitutional. It violates the principle of fifth schedule of the Constitution. The central government is yet to bring the municipality extension to the scheduled area. 
The move also violates Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act as the government has illegally included two panchayats — Jagada and Jharataran — in the proposed corporation without consulting the tribals. The government has even dissolved the elected bodies of the panchayats. We have raised the issue within the ambit of the Constitution, which should be addressed. Besides, the corporation will only serve the interest of a few and not the tribals.
 
Don’t you think that this sort of agitation will hinder the development of this cosmopolitan town?
This argument is totally based on a wrong notion. By floating this theory, attempts are being made to sideline the cause of the tribals. What have we got after the city was set up here? When the city came up 63 years back, nearly 19,000 acres was acquired, but the displaced people were not given any compensation. Even, those who lost their plots are yet to get their land records. Another irony is that records were issued, but the land is yet to be handed over. Now, they have turned beggars in their own land and are fighting to get back their rights. We have given enough time to the state government to consider our demands. It started in 2013. On November 25, 2014 and January 20, 2015 we had organised economic blockades. Later urban development minister Puspendra Singh Deo had called a meeting, but nothing has happened so far.
 
A section of the people are of the view that you are opposing development just to remain in the limelight?
This is wrong. If you are associated with the peoples’ cause, others will certainly notice you.
 
Both the BJD and BJP are focusing on Sundargarh. The district has sent a BJP MP (Jual Oram) and Rourkela city elected a BJP MLA (Dilip Ray). Even the BJD recently organised a youth convention at Rourkela. You must be finding it difficult to keep your support base intact in Sundargarh politics...
No one can take my space here. I am always with the people and fight for their cause. But in their case (BJP and BJD) once they get elected, they just forget people and get busy protecting their own interests...
 
You entered politics by contesting on a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) ticket. Why did you leave the JMM?
When I was working with a bank, I was very much disturbed seeing the plight of my own people. Few tribals joining the government and pocketing a fat salary will not help the community to develop. A great effort is required to bring a change in their lives. One-day, I suddenly decided to join the JMM. But after the Jharkhand state was formed taking 18 districts from Bihar, the JMM movement lost its steam. It remains just another political party. Therefore, I decided not to be associated with the party.

Why did you leave BJD whose leader Naveen Patnaik continues to be the most popular leader in the state ? 
With a great hope, I joined the party, thinking that the regional party would do a lot for the development of the state and the underprivileged. But my hope was belied. Naveen babu is not even keen on learning the language of the state of which he is the chief minister. 
There is no internal democracy in the party. No one can raise voice against the leader even if he continues to do something wrong. What troubled me was that the government had least concern for the welfare of the tribals. It was on January 2, 2005, that the Kalinga Nagar firing took place in which a number of tribals died and even their palms were chopped off. At that time, I was the general secretary of the party. I met Naveen babu and urged him to visit Kalinga Nagar to express his sympathy with the tribals. But that did not happen. I was extremely hurt and decided to leave his party forever.

You seem to be backing lost causes always, why? 
No. A wrong allegation is levelled against me. I have come to this field with a good intention in my mind.
 
You have been booked under various sections of the IPC for indulging in rioting, assaulting and obstructing officials, attempt to murder etc. Are not you afraid that these will affect your image?
So far, 104 cases have been lodged against me. I appear in the court regularly. It has also absolved me in a number of cases. I have no fear. If you are afraid, you will not be able to do anything. I have full faith in judiciary and I know that I will get justice. Registration of cases will not deter me from fighting for the peoples’ cause.

Now, you are a member of Samata Kranti Dal. Does it have any future in Odisha?
The party was born in February, 2014, just two months before the general elections. We did not have enough time to launch a full-fledged campaign across the state. But let me make it clear that I won the election because of my own efforts and it had nothing to do with the party. At this moment, it would be difficult to predict its future.
 
Some people think that you have a soft corner for Maoists. Why is it so?
If you take up the cause of poor tribal people, the government will label you as a Maoist supporter. Industrial houses are grabbing the land of poor tribal people without giving them adequate compensation. Even there are English medium schools, which have encroached upon tribal land. Is it a mistake to raise these issues? I cannot let my people suffer. I have been threatened that I will be detained under National 
Security Act. However, I will continue to fight.
 
There is also a demand for the creation of a separate Koshal state in western Odisha. What do you have to say?
There is no development at all in western Odisha. If this discrimination continues, the agitation for a separate state will gain momentum in the future. The government should initiate steps for the overall development of these areas to nip such agitations in the bud. Otherwise, it will have to pay a huge price.

Your protests must have disturbed your family life. Your wife must be upset with you for leaving a 
bank job and joining the politics...
I am really thankful to my wife Namita. She has helped me a lot in my struggle. She has tolerated a lot. I am also thankful to God. All my three sons and daughters are settled and have established themselves on their own.

Fighting for rights

An Intermediate in Science, Tirkey, 57, works towards protecting the tribal culture. 
He has successfully created his own support base in Sundargarh. 
lAfter passing out from Jhunmur High School in Sundargarh, he did his intermediate from the BJB College in Bhubaneswar. However, poverty forced him to leave his dream of pursuing higher studies.
He was an employee at the State Bank of India.
In 1995, he joined the JMM. While he managed to get elected twice on JMM ticket, he was once elected as an 
Independent candidate.
He set up the Samata Kranti Dal’s Odisha unit and won the seat from Biramitrapur.
 

What would you have been had you not been a politician?
I started my career by joining the provident fund office. Later, I switched over to the State Bank of India. Had I not joined politics, I would have continued with the bank job and led a comfortable life like others. But seeing the plight of the people, I decided to plunge into politics.