THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 30: Senior BJP leader and former Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda today revealed that he had stalled the then Land and Revenue Minister Mathura Mahto’s to change the Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts in 2012.
Addressing the ‘Parivartan Sabha’ organised at the outdoor stadium in Dumka today, Munda said Mathura Mahto had once forwarded a file to change the CNT-SPT Act, but I did not let that file move forward. “If that had happened, the land of the tribals would have been looted. So, I can say that only the Bharatiya Janata Party can develop the tribals,” he asserted.
Munda was CM from Sept 11 2010 to Jan 8 2013
Notably, Munda as chief minister ran the government in coalition with the JMM from September 11 2010 to January 8 2013. Mathura Mahto was the land and revenue minister while Hemant Soren held the finance ministry portfolio.
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Munda said that the change mooted by Mahto in the Tenancy Act would have allowed the conversion of tribal land into commercial land. “Hemant Soren as finance minister had approved Mahto’s proposal,” he pointed out.
“I, however, put my foot down and said it was not an issue which the cabinet should discuss. The issue needed to be discussed by the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC),” he recalled.
Masanjore Dam land encroached
Munda said that today everyone is facing injustice in the state. “The lands around the Masanjore Dam are being encroached upon. This land belongs to the tribals, but all this is happening under the protection of the government,” he said.
He said the BJP did the work of making a tribal woman the President. “Today, there are tribal Chief Ministers in Odisha and Chhattisgarh too. Today, the youth in the state are troubled, women are being constantly tortured, and there is only corruption everywhere,” he pointed out.
Why is change in govt necessary?
The former chief minister said it is necessary to bring about change to take the state forward. “Change is necessary to fulfil the dreams of the youth of the state. Change is necessary for stopping the loot that is being done through the infiltrators as it is a matter of security for our state and country,” he maintained.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and BJP State President Babulal Marandi were present also present at the meeting.
