The allegations and counter-allegations between BJP and Congress regarding delimitation in Jharkhand have intensified. The BJP blamed the Congress for the controversy, while the Congress accused the BJP government at the Center of a conspiracy to influence tribal political participation and reserved seats.
Ranchi: Political conflict between BJP and Congress has increased on the issue of delimitation in Jharkhand. BJP has accused Congress of double politics and misleading the public regarding delimitation. The Congress has hit back and accused the BJP of doing politics on a sensitive issue to hide its failures and alleged conspiracies.
BJP attacks Congress on 2008 delimitation
BJP State General Secretary Amar Kumar Bauri said that the responsibility of the current dispute regarding delimitation in Jharkhand is the responsibility of Congress. He cited the constitutional amendment made by the then UPA government at the Center in 2008 and demanded a public apology from Congress and Rahul Gandhi.
During a press conference at the state BJP office in Harmu, Bauri said that in the year 2008, the proposal for delimitation on the basis of population was brought by the Congress government. Due to this, the number of tribal seats in Jharkhand was going to reduce from 28 to 22.
He said that at that time BJP had supported the Congress government keeping in mind the interests and sentiments of the tribal community. According to the BJP leader, in the year 2008, the party had risen above politics and supported the UPA government for the 84th amendment of the Constitution.
BJP said- Delimitation Commission has not even been formed yet
Amar Kumar Bauri said that Congress is protesting and leveling allegations even before the formation of the Delimitation Commission. He claimed that the BJP government has not yet constituted the Delimitation Commission nor made any proposal in this regard.
He accused Congress of doing politics of not giving their rights to tribals, Dalits and women. Bauri also asked the Congress to give examples of work done for the development and respect of the tribal community during its tenure.
Congress counterattacks, accuses BJP of conspiracy
Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev termed Amar Kumar Bauri's statement as misleading to the people of the state. He alleged that the BJP was blaming the Congress for hiding its failures and conspiracies on a sensitive issue like delimitation.
Shahdev said that in the name of delimitation, the BJP government at the Center is conspiring to influence the political participation of tribals and reserved seats in Jharkhand. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi and Congress have always fought strongly for water, forest, land and tribal rights.
The Congress leader also questioned Home Minister Amit Shah's alleged model of 50 percent increase. He asked BJP to clarify what would be the constitutional and equitable basis of delimitation. Shahdev said that the confidence of the tribal society cannot be gained by mere announcements.