NEW DELHI: The Jharkhand talks again could not make much progress due to the absence of the Bihar chief minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, and the BPCC president, Dr. Jagannath Mishra, both of whom are reportedly lukewarm to the proposal for the formation of a separate tribal state.
The Indian Union home minister, S.B.Chavan, who had especially invited Yadav and Dr.Mishra, for the parleys could not make any announcement to calm down apprehensions of the MM group led by Shibu Soren, which has already announced its decision to launch an agitation for economic blockade in the region from September 2 in support of its demand for the formation of a tribal state.
However, Chavan rescheduled the talks for next day in the hope that the chief minister would be able to come and help the Center sort out the problem. According to a communication received by the home ministry, the chief minister could not keep his engagement with Chavan due to preoccupation with urgent matters in Patna.
While Dr. Mishra failed to turn up, the Regional Congress leaders hailing from Chhotanagpur were present in full strength for the second round of discussions with the home minister. Led by Devinder Prasad Champion, deputy speaker of the state assembly and Gayan Ranjan, MLC, the regional Congress delegation again impressed upon the home minister the urgent need for conceding the tribal demand. Any delay in the announcement, these leaders stressed, would give rise to further frustration among tribals who are already being exploited by antisocial elements over the issue. Sarfraz Ahmed, former joint secretary of the AICC, R.P.Raja and Satinder Jaiswal were the other leaders comprising the Regional Congress delegation,
Thomas Hansda, vice-president of BPCC, Chhatrapati Sahi Munda, general secretary, Ishwar Chander Pandey, former minister and Sumati Oraon, former MP, who also met the home minister, belong tothe Dr Jagannath Mishra camp, which is opposed to the demand for a tribal state. The home minister clearly told them since the demand was mainly being opposed by Dr.Mishra, he would like to ascertain his views before taking any decision.
Indications are that the Regional Congress leaders led by Gayan Ranjan may prevail upon the Central leaders to make some announcement in conformity with the recommendations of the Committee on Jharkhand Matters, After considering the problem with all its ramifications, the committee had suggested the formation of a separate state or grant of a Union Territory status to the tribal region. Gayan Ranjan and other leaders favoring the demand had met the Prime Minister.
While the JMM is going ahead with plans for its economic blockade agitation, Gayan Ranjan has called a meetings of DCC chiefs from all over the tribal region for an important meeting in Ranchi on September 6 to reiterate the demand for a tribal state.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1992
