THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 27: Former Chief Minister and BJP veteran Raghubar Das launched a fierce attack on the Hemant Soren-led government, accusing it of stalling the implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) due to alleged pressure from “foreign religious” (read Christians) groups.
Speaking at a press conference, Das said, “Even with a Chief Minister from the Sarna community, Jharkhand’s tribal society is being denied its constitutional right to traditional self-governance.” He questioned whether the state government feared losing political control if PESA were enforced fully.
Das traced the legacy of tribal icons like Birsa Munda, Sido-Kanhu, and Poto Ho who, he said, fought for tribal autonomy — something PESA seeks to restore. “Their sacrifices are being mocked by this delay,” he added.
All Clear, Yet No Action
The BJP leader pointed out that while PESA was passed nationally in 1996, Jharkhand has yet to implement it. “Even after five and a half years of this government, not a single tribal block benefits from the law,” he said.
He noted that the draft rules were published in July 2023 and subsequently approved by the Advocate General in March 2024. “Legal vetting is done, inter-state consultations are over, and still, nothing moves. What invisible force is stopping it?” he asked.
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Das alleged that sand and stone mafias, threatened by the tribal rights PESA would enforce, are lobbying to keep it shelved. “The law gives rights over local resources like minor minerals to traditional tribal leaders. That’s why the syndicates want it blocked,” he said.
Religious Allegations and Historical Critique
Das didn’t mince words about what he calls “foreign religious interference.” He claimed that those who abandoned tribal customs are seeking to hijack tribal institutions through Sixth Schedule-style representation. “PESA is about customary governance — not electoral politics,” he insisted.
He also attacked Congress for historically dismissing tribal concerns. “In 1961, they scrapped the tribal code in the census. In 2012, they opposed the Sarna Code outright. This appeasement is nothing new,” he said, citing former Union Minister Sudarshan Bhagat’s remarks.
JMM’s Rebuttal: ‘Where Was BJP Then?’
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) responded with a brief but sharp counter. Party spokesperson Vinod Pandey said the BJP is exploiting tribal issues for political gain. “Why didn’t Raghubar Das implement PESA during his tenure from 2014 to 2019?” he asked.
Pandey reiterated that the Hemant government has completed legal procedures and is close to finalising the rules. “This is not about religion; it’s about rights. BJP is trying to confuse the tribal society with old tactics,” he added.
As the PESA debate reignites in Jharkhand, tribal communities find themselves at the heart of a political storm — with BJP accusing the ruling coalition of betrayal and the JMM defending its track record. Whether PESA will be implemented soon remains the central question.
