Ever since the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha voted Draupadi Murmu for the presidency while its coalition partner in the state, the Congress, voted against her, leaders across party lines have been speaking out about a possible breakup of the alliance.
Many eyebrows were raised when Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in late June. Soon after, Soren’s party JMM announced its support to Murmu. Political developments in Jharkhand are making the leaders stand on their feet. During this political turmoil, News18.com spoke to Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda on his possible political scenario in the state of Jharkhand and the importance of a tribal man becoming the President. Edited excerpt:
The JMM’s social media handle used the picture of the Chief Minister to come out in their support and ‘If not Soren then who?’ The news is coming. What do you make of this?
I am not ready to analyze any political developments in Jharkhand right now. But I can say that the state should be administered effectively. The state government should provide the benefits of the schemes to the people for whom they were made and the political environment of the state should remain peaceful. The kind of political reports we are getting has raised questions on the situation in the state. The state was not formed for all this. It was formed to fulfill the aspirations of the people and respect the wishes of the people and turn them into reality.
Was it compulsion or was it because of BJP’s political acumen that JMM supported the NDA’s presidential candidate?
The vote for president was neither. We tried to rise above party politics for all. However, it comes to mind that when we are talking about the issues of tribals, and if we are not supporting a tribal woman for such a respectable position in the country then who do we support? It was a dilemma for JMM and there is no doubt about it.
Do you believe that Congress’s decision not to support a tribal woman for the presidency will reduce her chances in Jharkhand?
As far as I am aware, many people in Jharkhand, including the Congress, have voted in favor of Murmu’s candidature. It would have been better for Congress to support Murmu and give a message to the country that we are all together in the upliftment of the lives of those who have been left behind in the 75th year of independence. We are working to strengthen the country. There were times when the country remained divided into castes and communities for years. Communal violence was encouraged and incited. The decisions being taken by the Modi government today have a mission to improve the lives of people who have been neglected for years. We have made constitutional provisions to ensure that they come at par with others. No one thought of setting up any of these communities on constitutional posts.
Draupadi Murmu takes oath as President How important is it to the community?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the decision of making a tribal woman as the President a historic moment in the history of the country. Tribal communities live in places where living is not easy and we are working to improve their lives during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Not only the tribals, but the whole country is proud of President Draupadi Murmu. People have voted for him by rising above party politics.
How far-reaching is Murmu’s message as President among tribal communities?
Tribal community across the country is celebrating the victory of Madam President Draupadi Murmu.
The opposition had tagged you as a party of upper castes. Do you think that having communities neglected for years in constitutional positions is an attempt to change that perception?
The BJP government has got a huge mandate and it has become possible because every community and class has voted for us. The eyes of the opposition are blurred and they cannot even think beyond a limit. It attacks us without any reason in the blink of an eye.
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