CNT issue gives new lease of life to politically spent fuels
VIJAY DEO JHA
RANCHI Those who are shunted on the sidelines of politics and those who are nourishing dream careers in politics seem to be in perilous flirtation with the CNT Act with their tongue freshly dipped in vile. The actual debate over the utility and viability of this century old act has lost somewhere in the war cry and ominous threats of those who have been writing script of Domicile part II in Jharkhand.
Its (The row over CNT Act) spine is a notorious and malign political legacy that even its one-time partisans are loath to invoke — the violent Domicile controversy raised during Chief Ministerial regime of Babulal Marandi in 2002. Two major national political parties; the BJP heading coalition government and the Congress forming Opposition, have been hesitant to take definite stand either to press for a change in the format of this act to according to the need of the time or to keep it in its original form; except advocating an all party meeting over the issue. Circumstances have given rise to spent political forces to fill-up the vacuum right from former MP Salkhan Murmu, Suraj Mandal, and Shailendra Mahto, one time tribal veteran Suraj Singh Besra, Prabhakar Tirkey and others who are opposed to any change in the act. They say the act was brought the British government and amended later on by Centre to protect lands of tribal and backwards people.
Despite they having a fair and unquestioned record to champion tribal rights in Jharkhand the ongoing controversy seem to have given them a chance to make a comeback in the politics. Though, they refute the very charge. “We are fighting against land mafia and conscience keeper of corporate houses who are conspiring to annul the act to grab lands of tribal and backwards. Is it a crime? Do you think that we are trying to revive our political base? I won’t mind if you think so,” Murmu said. CNT Act Bachao Sangarsh Samiti (Committee to save CNT Act) was hurriedly formed and a meeting was held in Ranchi few days back that ended with less dialogue and more deadlocks and dire consequences. They have announced grand felicitation of the Land Revenue Minister and JMM leader Mathura Mahto for his pro-CNT stands. The basic questioned remained answered whether the act has helped land rich poor tribal so far.
Chances are the decibels will pierce ears in the coming day. Jharkhand Bachao Sangarsh Samiti joined the whole discourse whose head Uday Shankar Ojha claiming to be interest keeper of 80 per cent of people announced possibility of civil war in Jharkhand is lurking over CNT issue. The samiti announced to hold demonstration at Raj Bhavan against CNT Act. “Nobody thinks about 80 per cent of population of Jharkhand who can’t purchase lands due to strict prohibitions of the Act. Aren’t they the citizen of Jharkhand?” he said. A product of domicile controversy 2002, Ojha who had contested and lost the Hatia election as Lok Jansakti party candidate is known more for his sturdy physique rather than any sound and serious mental disposition. “It is an extremely sensitive and volatile issue,” a senior government official said.
“We must tread with extreme care and ensure people have no misgivings or misapprehensions over the Act. The way some of them are calling confrontation it is not a good sign. We must be cautious not to allow another domicile,” he added. The domicile controversy 2002 is a bad memory for spilling blood and spoiling social harmony. A small time leader in 2002 -- Bandhu Tirkey -- had made best use out of the domicile controversy and became an MLA. CNT controversy is tempting many to make a comeback in politics and inspiring many to polish their CV.
