Soren asks farmers to plough leaves deep furrow

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI 

JMM chief Shibu Soren asked villagers to plough their field during meeting of the agitators at Nagri leaving a deep furrow on the forehead of many in the government. Soren, on Sunday, was addressing a meeting of agitators who are opposed to establishment of IIM, IIIT and Law University on 227 acres of land at Nagri. 

Soren made best use of podium moment to assure his core constituents that he would oppose any decision of the government if it is subversive to the interest of tribal and farmers.

“Go and plough your field. I have always spoken against the government even I happen to be the part of the government. Land belongs to farmers. Government can’t take their land away. Government taking their land is unjust.” Soren said this to a gathering.

Soren spoke around 10 minutes; but did not talk much about the issue except extending support to their cause. But he made loud and clear to his BJP counterpart in the coalition government that either he or his party can’t risk becoming the party of such decision. 

A week back, a delegation of agitators had visited Soren and sought his support for farmers from the public forum. Soren agreed to attend their meeting which was scheduled on Sunday. Despite of heavy rain thousands came to attend public hearing.

“He has supported us. We hope he will pressurize the government to withdraw decision to establish institutions here. Our land will be returned” Soren had barely left the dais when the announcement was made.

But sources in the government have their own sets of concern that Soren only helped to turn more conflicting. “Five men committee has already been formed which is exploring ways to short out this issue. Let the negotiation to take place first. Addressing a public gathering and making such statement so loud and clear will create further deadlock…after all he happens to be the chairman of State Coordination Committee. What he utters will be considered the policy of the government,” top sources in the government said.

Five men committee headed by JMM leader and Land Revenue Minister Mathura Mahto is likely to convene meeting with villagers and their representatives on Monday.

“We have called them for a meeting. We will listen to their points and their demand. Farmers should be given justice,” Mahto told The Pioneer over telephone. 

“What Soren announced can’t be said as reflection of the mind of the government. But the way JMM leaders in the government are speaking it seems that they putting blame on to the BJP for the crisis. Any public statement of this kind reflects poorly upon the government,” a BJP minister of coalition government headed by Chief Minister Arjun Munda said.

Minister argued that the government will take all aspects — humane and legal before taking any decision. “But this is not the way. You (Soren) are grilling your government where you are a partner,” minister said.

But the JMM insisted that Soren being a mass leader can’t be confined to the nitty gritty of the governance. “Unka dil janta me basta hai sarkar me nahi wah janta kee baat karte hain (his heart lies in the people not in the government, he talks about the people,)” JMM MLA Shashank Sekhar Bhokta said.   

After controversy flared into flame the BJP too appears jittery about venturing out too far alone. The BJP has already faced political consequences during anti-encroachment drive last year when the JMM had shrugged off from taking responsibility of the drive. It cost the BJP in Jamshedpur parliamentary election and elsewhere.