Sahay’s tryst with controversy

Published in The Pioneer September 10, 2012

Sahay’s tryst with controversy 

More to story than Colgate 

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Union Tourism Minister and Congress’ heavyweight Subodh Kant Sahay hates to go through those odd pages of ‘Open Secret: India’s Intelligence Unveiled’ by Intelligence Bureau’s former Joint Director MK Dhar, that unlock certain well guarded vaults of secrets of Sahay as Home Minister (state) in the Chandrasekhar led government during 1991-92. 

Sahay has often been a multilayer story — dived in intriguing plots and subplots — that speak about his relationship with controversy as a politician and minister.

Sahay recently found himself under the heap of Colgate scam after he wrote letter of recommendation to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek coal blocks for the company ‘SKS Ispat and Power Limited’ where his brother is Sudhir Kumar Sahay is an honorary director.

Sahy leaped from one press conference to another distributing copes of Delhi High Court’s order to explain media and people that neither he nor his brother had any relation with the said company. But nothing could stop his name and deeds turning into banner headline of morning dispatches. Hemmed and haunted Sahay accepted his bother having relation with the said company with great mayhem job on morality saying he did no moral wrongdoings.

Dhar passed away in month of May, this year, but left behind his narratives riddled with too many negatives: his associations with controversial godman Chandraswami and his key aide Mamaji aka KN Agrawal with whom he was indulged in many wheeling-dealings.

“Some of his deals relating to purchases made for the police and paramilitary forces in Assam and Punjab were routed through Chandraswami. A particular jeep deal for Assam was clinched after the minister and the targeted supplier had an exclusive meeting at the abode of the Swami,” book reads.

Dhar was seventh addition to his personal office which Dhar was unwilling to undertake. Sahay along with Swami were eager to clinch personal and political deals and gains and wanted Dhar to be the party of to this even offering him financial packages. Referring to two such deals which were of particular interest of Chandrasekhar also, Dhar wrote: “He (Sahay) said that his intentions were honourable and he wanted to liberate me from the miseries of pecuniary constraints ….”

Congress’ late Rajiv Gandhi extending support to the Chandasekhar government from outside was particularly averse about these two deals which Dhar does not disclose owing to the sensitivity of the matter. Late Gandhi was very critical about Swami and his involvement and IB considered Swami as a security threat which Sahayhad ruled out. Later on, Justice Jain Commission, probing broader conspiracy behind killing of Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991 by the LTTE made damming references to Chandraswami.

Sahay kept him out of his private enterprises except on occasion when he demanded fat amounts from the secret service fund of the IB. “Funds (secret service) were not utilized for the purposes these were drawn,” Dhar writes.

“The most bizarre incident of that phase was the decision of Sahay,” Dhar writes, “to seek re-election to the parliament from Ludhiana constituency,” with the help of Manjit Singh and likes. Singh, president of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF), having dubious terror records had come in touch with Sahay during Centre’s secret bid to open parallel peace process in Punjab with other outfits. Chandraswami, Mamaji and Punjab’s truckers lobby were there to mobilize finance for him, Sahay lost 1991 general election from Ludhiana.

The observation made by Dhar was even produced as evidence before Jharkhand High Court in 2007 by one of his relatives Hitesh Verma, a senior Ranchi based CCL official whom Sahay conspired to transfer to Margareta coliiray Assam allegedly to settle personal scores. Verma produced it as evidence to claim that Sahay may physically harm him in Assam by using his connection if he was transferred. The court had quashed his transfer order.

Sahay has a rich library but that particular book is missing from his bookshelves.

More skeltons keep tumbling out of the cupboard

Purchases made for the police and paramilitary forces in Assam and Punjab routed through Chandraswami.

A particular jeep deal for Assam was clinched at the abode of the Swami.

Tried to bribe IB head for certain deals

Ignored IB’s report over Chandraswami as security threat

Justice Jain Commission’s observation came to conform it.

“Funds (secret service) were not utilized for the purposes these were drawn.

Ignored IB’s suggestion to start police operation in Assam against separatist groups.

Sought re-election from Ludhiana constituency with the help of Manjit Singh and likes of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF).

VIJAY DEO JHA   विजय देव झा 

VIJAY DEO JHA 

A state that exists between good and bad

A state that exists between good and bad

VIJAY DEO JHARANCHIJharkhand has been a story of too much of negatives. But the story that remains unreported is the story of perpetual fight of people and the way they have withstood many tides — chronic and extant. In some way they have teased miracle probably leaving rest of India confounded.Look at the people, their life, custom, art, culture and society that exist on many layers of time and reality. Very often one cannot relate to the other, much less have a measure of comprehension. Researchers in subaltern history and sociology return with more unfamiliar and unique facts about people, their life and history.Imperial eminences — Dalton, Denis and Oaks, et al — weren’t the first or the last one to realize that these peace loving people could be exploited and subjugated till the time they chose to retaliate and revolt. From 1772 to 1900 it carried 13 major revolts against British Empire.Until quite recently, imperial historians wrote only darkly about Jharkhand and its leaders who had fought against British Empire. Gautam Kumar Bera’s ‘The Unrest axle: Ethno-social Movement in Eastern India’ probably offers the best insight of journey of Jharkhand as part of British Empire and then Indian Republic. But they continued their fight for rights over land, forest and wanted their unique cultural land must get constitutional emboss in form of a separate state. But the new tribes of rulers at Delhi’s power portal proved themselves the pedigree of their predecessors in exploiting people and their rich resources. Through a deliberate and silent process, one by one, leaders representing sentiment of Jharkhandi masses were shunted on the sideline. Ironically, few chose to put themselves on auction to secure political profits. Addressing a huge mass in 1981 at Gandhi Maidan in Dumka, BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee had promised statehood to Jharkhand which he fulfilled in 2000.A decade passed and more yet to come. The turbulence of Domicile episode, frequent fall of governments, looting spree of public exchequer by people in establishment, petty and shady contractors turning into politician, hunger and famine, exploitation, corporate houses fast belting its mineral resources, and naxal terror sharking from dateline to dateline — Jharkhand got an unalloyed infamy as basket case and political laboratory of India.But Jharkhand has a way to fight, a quality that earned the state a grand concession and consideration in Shree Harivansh’s two books ‘Sapne Aur Yatharth’ and ‘Samay Aur Sawal’. Harivansh must be wishing to update his observation about Jharkhand with calmer analysis.As economist Dr Ramesh Sharan said that the chief cause of predicament of Jharkhand remained the gross abuse of power: “State and people were grossly misunderstood. Lack of mature leadership and no concrete policy led have brought this condition.” But everybody seriously believes that Jharkhand will right a fresh story of development and chuck odds in the bin of the past. It needs a fair examination of causes of mass displacement of tribal people and land acquisition policy that witnessed violent protest from Tapkara to Kathikund to Nagri and myriads of pockets are simmering with similar prospect. “170 MoUs so far…that means one crore tribal will be displaced. Tribal people are getting alienated in their own land, what a pity,” tribal leader Salkhan Murmu says. Two land related acts, CNT and SP Act are at place to protect tribal land besides Jharkhand falling in schedule 5^th state category. But the Acts miserably failed to protect tribal land. A section considers these Acts too outdated, not in sync with socio-economic development of the state and tribal. But then radical groups virulent and violently opposes to any change without offering any alternative. Some of them give live cry against outsiders. Their definition of outsider is sure to drive out half of the population.Thankfully, their appeal remains contained within a precinct.Jharkhand’s problems are complex in nature which were misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Primary education starts from nil and staggers at shameful index. Healthcare is in shamble. Large swathes of the state have no access to water or electricity. State has got dubious distinction as the state where human trafficking is rampant. But to ignore any of Jharkhand’s mutinies against such problems would be to court ugly surprises.A battleground of Naxalism and security forces Jharkhand’s hinterland speak terrible story of the plight of the people and the pitfalls of iniquitous growth.Fighting against inequality people are trying to discover ways of securing their rightful share in what they are being told is theirs. There is court where they fight their battle legally, they have ballot for political battle.Bad news has often portrayed Jharkhand in villainy. But there is a lot of good news too. Youths are coming forward for a change. Those calling Jharkhand a functional anarchy probably miss that Jharkhand is what quietly happens between the bad and the good. It is state whose painful stride for prosperity has gone unnoticed. The first Governor of Jharkhand Prabhat Kumar is of the view that change will chatter in Jharkhand and the civil society must come forward in opinion making.Jharkhand is destined to glory. It has resolved to fight against cumulated contradictions. Former Jharkhand Governor Ved Marwah in his book ‘India in Turmoil’ had observed Jharkhand baffling yet beautiful.  A decade later it sounds true.

Justice or death, Sonali makes plea

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI 

Her life is, as though, someone having ugly aesthetic sense has vandalized a picturesque landscape. In her case the life is black and bleak too. Sonali Mukherjee (27) has nearly destroyed albums of Kodak moments of those days when she was beautiful and full of energy.

Her life turned ugly on dreary night of April 22, 2003 when three accused named as Tapas Mitra, Sanjay Paswan, and Bhrahmadev Hajra splashed acid on her face when she was fast asleep on the terrace of her Bhelatand residence in Dhanbad. Her once beautiful face turned into an ugly visage of acid attack. Flesh on her face melted away, her nose and an ear got totally damaged, her beautiful big eyes turned into a circular orb leaving her partially blind for rest of her life. Acid left deep scar on her neck, right part of her chest and hands. Medically she was declared 72 percent burnt; emotionally injury was beyond repair and beyond any measurement. Her only faults that she dared them and threatened them police complaint as they were harassing her with lewd and leer.

She has been fighting a lone battle for justice over the years and there is no assurance and timeline about the deliverance of justice. “Gato chhaee varshe theke nyay pawaar High Court darjaaee dariye. Ataee kee justice delayed justice denied nai? Nayay pawaar aage awadhi aami dekhe thakle to,(From last six years I have been running to High Court to seek justice. Isn’t it justice delayed justice denied? I will see justice only if I remain alive),” Sonali said.

Her father Chandidas Mukherjee — once a watchman now unemployed — sold away all his property and the jewellary of his wife to fight legal battle and for her treatment. “No more money sir. I have spent more than 12 lakh. I am in deep debt. I have taken my daughter to almost all hospitals for her treatment,” her father said. Accused were convicted with nine years of jail term. They came out after securing bail from Jharkhand High Court only to threaten Mukherjees. Frightened, the family shifted to Kasmar in Bokaro leading life in isolation and deep depression. Long back Sonali appealed Jharkhand High Court for the cancellation of bail of the accused. Every time she returns with a next date of hearing — an unending agony that has shattered Sonali who was known for her courage as a brave NCC cadet. Her lawyer Paravver Chattarjee has absolutely no idea whether any section exists in penal code to end her agony.

Sonali Mukherjee

Her mother has become depressed; grandfather died in agony and her younger sister and brother Devasish and Sneha are jittery to venture out. Her father now works as a priest to run the family. He is blessing others, and, unfortunately he could not secure same for her daughter; even earthy Gods have denied so.

“Tell me where to go? Who will listen to me? Why should I suffer? When shall I get justice? I am gradually losing courage. Allow me to end my life you can’t give me justice. My life was destroyed.” Her many ‘who’ and ‘why’ have failed to jangle the nerves of power portal in Ranchi and elsewhere.

The family knocked all possible doors of high and mighty including three Chief Ministers of Jharkhand Madhu Koda, Arjun Munda and Shibu Soren and other for justice and assistance: all sympathized but no support.

She can’t withstand mirror for a moment, probably, she expects no miracle because even partial miracle of plastic surgery will cost not less than Rs 10 lakh. The thick-skinned establishment blithely eased responsibility off its shoulders and pretended not a crease of blame, much less a scar. Administration can pretend that she is already covered under social security scheme and paid Rs 200 each month disability allowance for being physically challenged. He grandmother is paid Rs 400 per month as old age pension. Her single page petition for financial assistance submitted to Welfare Department and CMO has turned into thick documents of official apathy because the file moved but not really.

She has approached the State Women Commission for protection. Fresh promises were made by the Jharkhand government to look into her case. “The case has been brought to our notice. Government will certainly look into the matter. All possible help will be offered,” Women and Child Welfare Minister Vimla Pradhan said.

Sonali’s eyes have welled up again and her distorted face makes sure she can’t contain her tears. Be it the High Court for justice or hospital for treatment she is asked to wait in patience and her patience knows no bound. 

Sankarshan Thakur

Mightier than Governor, Praveen got more pampering than punishment

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

At this moment former Governor of Jharkhand Ved Prakash Marwah would be able to explain as to why no actions taken against IPS Praveen Kumar Singh whose operational mistakes and undutiful act during ambush with CPI (Maoist) at Baliwa led to the killing of 33 security personnel.

Marwah who authored ‘India in Turmoil’ focusing upon internal security challenges in the country has made serious observations against Singh and evasive attitude of the state government in punishing him in the book on in pages 123-124. Marwah had served Jharkhand as Governor from June 12, 2003 to December 9, 2004.

On April 7, 2004 Jharkhand had witnessed biggest mayhem of combined contingent of the state police and CRPF. Singh; SP Chaibasa that time, who was leading the forces fled from the battlefield and left forces to become an easy meat of the Maoist. Over the years the state government instead punishing Singh pampered him with postings in lucrative districts like Hazaribagh and Ranchi.

Speaking to the pioneer over telephone Marwah said: “I remember that schedules of the parliamentary elections were announced and Singh who led the team was returning to the base by the same route. Maoists surrounded the team and killed the jawans. Singh in fact fled and left the jawans butchered. I had asked the DGP and the state government to take actions. Singh used his good connection in the political fraternity to save his skin. He got a reward posting.” 

Court of Inquiry conducted by the CRPF held him responsible on 13 counts including vital strategic lapses and not informing his superiors about the incidents even after 12 hours he fled from the ambush site. Udhampur unit of the CRPF in 2009 had reminded the state government to take action against him. In March 2012 the CRPF sent a terse missive to the state government for not initiating any action against Singh.

“Ambush on the 150 strong CRPF and state police party armed with LMGs under the command of an SP in 2004…was one of the most sensational case…the extremist demonstrated their domination of rich mining area and their daring strength. The police lost an inspector and over 30 security personnel without much resistance. The SP who was commanding the police contingent also ran away for his life leaving helpless policemen and the CRPF personnel to their own fate,” the book read.  All these years Singh enjoyed plum postings in lucrative districts—SP Hazaribagh, SSP Ranchi and DIG Special Branch of Police.

There was an open talk that this had been done because of his political connections and that punishing him would have exposed the police-politician nexus for illegal mining in the area, Marwah observed.

Singh is the son-in-law of Congress leader Jagdambika Pal who was -- one day Chief Minister -- of Uttar Pradesh. Two years back Pal had raised much hue and cry on the floor of the Parliament when someone raised a doubting finger on deteriorating law and order condition of Jharkhand and about political patronage and postings of police officials. Pal had clamoured that his brave son in law hadfaced 8-10 bullets in his chest during that encounter. Singh had actually sustained bullet injuries on his right arm and finger.

“The tragic incident reflected poorly on the police morale and its leadership in the state. The fact that no action was taken against the IPS officer…only goes to show how deep the malady of corruption in the state administration was,” Marwah commented.

Protest, petition and praise marks Munda’s Hazaribagh visit

VIJAY DEO JHA

HAZARIBAGH 

They had collected hundreds of petitions to submit it to Chief Minister Arjun Munda as he reached to Curzon Ground in Hazaribagh district on Sunday afternoon to distribute funds under social welfare schemes and inaugurate some of the projects.

Munda was welcomed by the girls of the Vivekanand Central Schools who performed dance over the songSuni jo aahat aane ki u unki of Hindi movie Satyam Shivam Sundaram. But the motley crowd responded the presence of CM on the stage quite insipidly and on some moments they made their protest known. These were those handicapped people who had come to programme to register their complaint against the district and state administration for neglecting them.

“Nobody will clap. We are not going to be entertained by false promises,” Nagesh Kumar who runs Viklang Vikash Samiti said. He was leading to a group of large number of handicapped out of which some of them were called by the district administration to collect certificate of their physical disability. “We have treated poorly. We face problem in getting physical disability certificate leave talking about getting bank loans and free education,” Sanjeeta, a physically handicapped girl said.

Munda was quick to gauge public mood and assured to correct it in less time. “The government has not only started schemes but has put the system at place to monitor it. Government and administration are committed for social welfare,” Munda said. Munda distributed cheques under Ladli Laksmi Yojana. The dais was occupied by MLAs of both Opposition and coalition right from Saurabh Narayan Singh and Yogendra Saw of the Congress to Umashankar Yadav Akela of the BJP and Jaiprakash Bhai Patel of the JMM.

Both Singh and Saw were at their best to bore holes in the claims of the government and lamented poor development of Hazaribagh all these years. Munda was at his rhetoric best in replying their charges quite maturely. “Not only government it is the duty of entire political class to take united effort for development. The state government has made conscious efforts for development of Hazaribagh. Due to proactive stand taken by the government the pending railway projects in Hazaribagh was started,” Munda said. Addressing people, BJP’s Hazaribagh MP Yashwant Sinha also praised state government requesting Munda to make special budgetary provisions in the next financial budget.

After two decades of negligence a promise of road from Munda

VIJAY DEO JHA

GIRIDIH/ DHANBAD

It took more than two hours to the blaring flotilla of Chief Minister Arjun Munda to travel 16 km of stretch of Khorimahua-Dhanwar-Jamua road to reach Giridih district headquarter on Monday night during a road inspection visit.

And, it took more than two decades for the state governments to sanction funds for repairing and strengthening of this road. Last time the road was renovated way back in 1990 when Jagannath Mishra was Chief Minister of undivided Bihar.

It is a seer irony that the area was represented by heavyweights like Chandra Mohan Prasad, Lakshman Swarnkar, Ravindra Roy and Lalchand Mahto who were even minister in the successive state governments. All of them are now sulking on the sidelines of the state politics. They were shunted by electorates for not taking bothering about the condition of this road considered as a vital economic life line that connects Giridih with states like West Bengal and Bihar.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda while passing through this dilapidated road understood the political cost involved in neglecting it further. “I have seen the bad condition of this road. The government has decided to sanction amounts for its renovation and tenders will be opened on March 5. I will ensure that construction work is completed within time frame,” Munda informed at a press conference in Giridih on Monday morning.

But before the arrival schedule of Munda in Giridih was announced locals had made their mood known this time. They resisted patch-up work of this road by desperate officials of the road construction department who wanted to fill carters on the road before the arrival of Munda. Only few kilometer of stretch could be patched-up otherwise the rest exposed official apathy of the last two decades.

“As I remember the road was last renovated in 1990 in undivided Bihar when Jagannath Mishra was Chief Minister. The condition of road is very bad…and nobody cared about this,” Bablu Pathak a young social activist said. A major stretch of this road passes through Giridih parliamentary constituency which is being represented by Ravindra Pandey of the BJP.

“It is not a simple story Sir,” interrupts Pramod Chaudhary, a local journalist. “In fact this road remained neglected due to political reason. While the BJP controls parliamentary seat but its assembly constituencies are under the control of the non-BJP parties like the JVM and the RJD. Even the JVM chief Babulal Marandi, who often blames BJP led state government over the road issue; does not want it to be developed. He will lose a point to target the state government. I feel Marandiji is a big stumbling block,” he said.

The 35.260 km long Khorimahua-Jamua road passes through Rajdhanwar and Jamua assembly constituency represented by Nizamuddin Ansari and Chandrika Mahto of the JVM.

While Munda rejected any such political consideration behind decade long negligence of the road but he pricked Marandi with classic banter. “I hope you must be happy. If anybody is unhappy please let me know,” Munda said.

Leaving Giridih around 10.30 on Monday morning Dhanbad was the next destination of Munda where baffling sets of local concerns were ready to welcome him: long standing rehabilitation issue of people in Jhariya coal belt and drinking water problem of Dhanbad.

“Rehabilitation of thousands of population of Jhariya is a big. The issue comes within the jurisdiction of the Central government and the Union Coal Ministry that want to vacate the area due to underground fire and further exploration of coal. But I will certainly demand special package from the Centre for rehabilitation of resident of Jhariya,” Munda told The Pioneer.

Ideology takes a back seat, purses matter

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

You are allowed to laugh if someone believes that political ideology has something to do with any of the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand. From Maharaja to business tycoon; Jharkhand has been the perfect place for political refuge. Outsiders' ability to win elections specially that of Rajya Sabha has inspired many.

The upcoming Rajya Sabha election for two seats in Jharkhand, scheduled for March 30 (following the end of the term of BJP’s SS Ahluwaliya and Mabel Rebelo of the Congress), has come as an open invitation to outsiders.

The Maharajadhiraj of Raj Darbhanga, Kameswar Singh, was not a refugee when he won Rajya Sabha election in 1952 as candidate of the Jharkhand Party of Jaipal Singh after loosing general election of 1951. But he had no connection with the tribal, the party and tribal politics of the region known as Jharkhand; a part of undivided Bihar then.

The deal was finalized in Delhi’s power corridor, mediated by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who had persuaded hockey wizard Jaipal Singh to field Maharaja in the Rajya Sabha election. “The Unrest Axle: Ethno-Social Movement in Eastern India,” written Gautam Kumar Bera offers an insight. "Maharaja had no connection with Jharkhand Party and its ideology. The decision was resented. But none dared to oppose it," a chapter of the book reads.

A noted academician who was close to Maharaja had once revealed that Jaipal Singh was convinced that Kameswar Singh—richest landlord of India; with his two leading newspapers — Indian Nation and Aryavarta—would be an added advantage for the party. Winning Rajya Sabha election even during 50s was not possible without money as it happens today. Maharaja had to spend around Rs three lakh to keep the JP fold together, it is said.

But prior to the entry of Maharaja; politics and politicians of Jharkhand, known for their anti-outsider mindset called Diku (outsider); had ended embargo on outsider with the election of Minoo Mashani from the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat in the first general election. Mashani never turned to Ranchi after his election. In 1977 Ravindra Varma, from Kerala, had contested as Oppositions’ candidate from Ranchi Lok Sabha seat. “Quick to promise development Varma won election; became Union Labour Minister and assured to get a house here in Ranchi to serve people till rest of his life. He never returned to Ranchi,” Uttam Sengupta who had covered Varma’s election remembered. Varma though remained connected with his only friend industrialist Hanuman Prasad Sarawgi in Ranchi.

After the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, it became free hunting ground of the tycoon and refugees. Parimal Nathwani, the corporate head of Reliance Industries Limited, won Rajya Sabha election in 2008 as an independent without any effort. At least nine JMM, two RJD and a few of others made him to win. The result had left such a bad taste in the mouth of the JMM candidate Kishorilal (himself an outsider) that he had sportingly said that he would think twice to contest even a municipal election from Jharkhand. Media wasted rims of paper to narrate the success story of Nathwani: It was money that mattered.

The JMM having infamy of fielding and supporting rich and resourceful outsiders for Rajya Sabha elections had fielded RK Anand. In 2010 Rajya Sabha election, the JMM again picked an outsider; Kanwar Deep Singh; a Haryana based industrialist and owner of Alchemist Group. KD Singh had forged untenable connections with Jharkhand emotional if not ancestral, though to stop being labelled as an outsider. Few were convinced about hid dedication towards Jharkhand. The most investigated story remained an unconfirmed story of an inside deal; which nobody in the JMM attests or contests even today except feign ignorance.

Singh won the election with the help of additional five votes of the AJSU Party. But he never returned to Jharkhand after that and deserted the JMM to join the Trinmool Congress. “We have bad experience with outsider. The party leadership might have received lesson. Hope this time no outsider is given ticket and supported,” JMM MLA Sheshank Sekhar Bhokta said.

    
The JMM is not alone in doing this. The BJP and the Congress in the past have shown hospitality in fielding outsiders since there is no constitutional impropriety.

Ahluwalia, a Sikh born and brought up in Asansol, is married to a Bengali and speaks Bengali fluently was accommodated in Jharkhand. Former BJP MP Devdas Apte is not seen after his term ended. Similarly, Congress MP Mabelo Rebello of Goan descent born in Udupi and close to the Goan border with Karnataka has no connections, even remote, with Jharkhand. She has concern for a smaller part of Jharkhand, district Gumla and its surrounding area where she is learnt to have some missionary interests. With elections round the corner back room negotiation has started. Though, Jharkhand Vikash Morcha opted for a local nominee.

My rebirth for Jharkhand and country: Munda

Anupam Sheshank/ Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi 

He is a theist but he is now very strong in believing that divinity exists beyond the point of human perception after he survived deadly chopper crash a month back.

There is no better person than Chief Minister Arjun Munda to tell us presence of divine during those 70 minutes in air when his chopper developed perilous technical snags enough to perish life.

He miraculously escaped from the jaw of death with multiple close injuries, fracture and burns on his left hand, right leg and spinal cord. He has recovered from psychological trauma of crash, though; his face slyly twists out of pain. He is recovering from injuries at the CM House following seven weeks of complete bed rest prescribed by the doctors. Visitors keep flocking to wish him and he attends all with his usual smile. So many things have changed in his life after the crash: both at the level of perception and personality. 

In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer Munda shared those moments of battle between life and death. “I survived because of grace God,” Munda said. He soon turns enigmatic: “But why God gave me a new lease of life. It must not be without reasons. Almighty probably wanted me to serve my people. It is my rebirth. It is for Jharkhand,” he says.

He survived, may be out of sheer luck or may be because of blessings of divine that wants him in a new role. Munda may be right since the history of chopper crash of such magnitude in India and elsewhere has not offered any instance of survival of that kind.

“In the last one month I read a lot of incidents of chopper crash in the past where none survived. My wife (Meera Munda inside the chopper) became nervous and asked me to call some of our close to take care of our children in case we don’t survive. I just switched-off my cell phone and told her keep patience that nothing is going to happen. But I knew that chances of survival are less in such cases since the chopper was flying at the speed of 90 nautical miles per hour…pilots had lost control over speed. It was not possible to land with that speed. We survived. Why?” he said.

Arnuchal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia are some of instances to prove his points.

A tactile change has appeared in Munda. His personality has got some other layers, not known before, which he accepts. “I have been serving people. I am not the master of this life of mine. God has given me an opportunity to serve people in better way that I will do,” Munda says.

An avid reader and quick learner, Munda has developed deep interest in philosophy of Chanakya over polity and governance. He has brought CDs of 48 episodes of TV serial Chanakya which he has been watching regularly besides reading books. Munda talks less about mundane affairs of state and politics, he is more metaphysical than political.

“One takes birth after nine months in the womb. I am in the bed, waiting for rebirth. I don’t know how much time I am to like this. But I will come back. It’s God’s design that I must follow,” he says.   

Doctors have advised him a complete bed rest as he suffered injuries in vertebra during crash. But those, who are concerned about his vertebra, have forgotten the man has a formidable spine. He is discharging his duties as Chief Minister, taking minute to minute details of administrative affairs in the bed.

He will soon put a bone to his back, like a warrior would put sword to scabbard, and stride into the field of slaughter, unbothered about what happened in the past.

Hatia by-poll: Too tough a fight for Sahays!

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

He dares dust and stinging heat, grabs hands of few youths’ and does some whispering in ears that came close to him, fondles a couple of school going kids and asks if they know who he is and jumps back to announce. “All of them know me personally…even children; this is happening everywhere, so you judge how I am doing,” he cocks back his sweaty head.  

Call it confidence, call it complacency, Congress Party candidate Sunil Sahay has convinced himself that he is set to grab Hatia. He is loath to his experience in active politics and looks other when his Opponents — even within the Congress — dismiss him just as younger brother of Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay.

Muted protest of giving preference to family rather than dedicated party workers has become louder. On Wednesday, veteran Congress leader Pratibha Pandey accused senior Sahay responsible for rout of the Congress. “Sahay had started the process of the ruin of the Congress which will be finished in Hatia,” Pandey said on Wednesday and announced to join the BJP. She is peeved at the denial of ticket. Congress has a long list of such whiners who are secretly wishing and plotting for defeat to boom on the face of Sahays. 

“My opponents have been running short of ideas and arsenals against me. They have accepted defeat in advance,” he chucks such impressions in the bin and move ahead to other location to grab more hands. This is a huge leap of faith that he has acquired during tedious tour of Hatia constituency. Elder brother has already deployed his trusted men, might, manner and mesmerism for him and Bhabhi(Sister in law) Rekha Sahay too came out of kitchen to catch vote. He knows, though, at the bottom of his conviction of victory that he argued ahead of time, that it will take very little to un-work all his talk of work.

This is Hatia assembly constituency after all where caste, candidate, combination and party organization are intrinsically woven. There are candidates like Ramji Lal Sarda (BJP), Naveen Jaisawal (AJSU Party), Ajay Nath Sahdeo (JVM) and few others who have made the fight multi-cornered. Sarda is probably fighting last election of his life and the BJP has deployed its organizational bases, up to booth level, to snatch Hatia back from the Congress and to compensate what Sarda lost marginally in the last election at the hand of Congress’ Late Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo of the Ratu royal family. “Here it is BJP not Sarda who is fighting. In the Congress this is a Minister who is fighting the election. Things are going to be miserable for Sahays,” Hemant Keshri, a BJP worker said. Even if the contest become bipolar, between Congress and BJP finally, Sahay has two powerful contenders, Ajay and Naveen who are targeting Congress’ core Muslim votes.

“Muslims en masses are not going to vote for Congress. There are many Muslim candidates in the fray other than the move of JVM and AJSU Party. We need to be very cautious,” says Ashraf Ali a Congress worker at Itki bazaar. Itki appeared divided over its electoral choice. The contest is mainly among BJP, AJSU and JVM while the Congress is trying to jostle for its share.

Don’t forget Virendra Bhagat here in Itki area just because he is contesting as an independent. Having potential hold over Sarna votes in Itki, which has sizeable chunk of around 20000, Bhagat has been wooing Christian votes too as independent MLA Bandhu Tirkey now extending him overt support.

Sahay’s adversaries have surrounded him from all sides, from rural to urban areas, from campaign to criticism. “It time to teach Congress lessons for loot and corruption…time to teach Congress for neglecting Hatia” as though his Opponents have ganged-up against him. “We are getting publicity free of cost. That means we are in the fray,” chortle one Congress worker but he admits that Opposition has thrown unexpected challenges. And junior brother is counting too much on his elder to handle Opposition’s mounted assault.

The large part of Ratu which remained loyal to the Congress because of its loyalty towards the royal family may witness loyalty shift. “People voted to Gopal sahib not to Congress. This time, the BJP will gain here,” said Mahaveer Gupta, owner of a cloth shop. If proofs are required BJP flags fluttering atop houses indicate so. Ajay, kin of the royal family is trying to claim legacy of Shahdeo. Sahay knows that election result will have far reaching impact -- a truth he will not accept publicly.