Ranchi: The opposition alliance has definitely disrupted the arithmetic of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jharkhand. For the BJP is neither being able to field the incumbents, nor the recently poached leaders from the opposition camp.
Voting for Ranchi and Koderma will take place on May 6, while Chatra will be held on April 29 itself, but BJP is yet to announce its candidate from these seats. BJP’s state president Laxman Gilua has made it clear during a news conference that the performance of the three MPs from the respective seats have been poor so they might not be getting the ticket to contest election.
Then obvious option for the world’s largest political party, which is in power, both in Jharkhand and in centre is to get new faces, but the party seems to be in a catch-22 situation.
Coming to Jharkhand’s state capital, Ranchi, which for the BJP has become a problematic seat. The supporters of the outgoing BJP MP Ramtahal Choudhary gheraoed the party office and threatened of dire consequences if the incumbent didn’t get to the ticket to contest.
Seventy seven-year-old Ramtahal, who hails from Kurmi background, is a five-time MP. He has warned that if he doesn’t get the party symbol, then he will be contesting as an independent candidate. BJP’s dilemma is obvious, as denying him tickets would annoy five lakhs Kurmi voters in Ranchi, where two names are doing rounds – Aditya Sahu and a senior IPS officer, but party is yet to reach on a final decision.
Here, the united opposition has announced Congress’ Subodh Kant Sahay as their collective candidate for the seat.
The story of Koderma seat is more interesting, as here BJP has inducted two people from different political parties– Annapurna Devi, former RJD state chief into the party and Pranav Verma, former JVM leader. And it was believed that either Annapurna or Pranav will get ticket if not sitting MP Ravindra Rai. Rumours of Ravindra joining JVM is rife. But he has refuted the news. Meanwhile, BJP has neither announced any of the three or anyone else from Koderma.
But opposition alliance had fielded its candidate in Babulal Marandi, while CPI (ML) has pitted Rajkumar Yadav from this seat. CPI (ML) had secured the second position for two consecutive elections – 2014 and 2009 in Koderma.
The story of Chatra seat is similar to that of Koderma. Here Girinath Singh, a four-time RJD MLA has been inducted, but neither his nor anybody’s name has been declared as BJP’s candidate. Chatra’s outgoing MP is Sunil Singh.
Speaking about the same, political analyst Kamal Nayan Chaparia, said, “It has been a fortnight since the party declared candidates for ten seats. The delays prove that there is no wave or wind blowing in favour of BJP in Jharkhand. The delay will further dampen the enthusiasm of party workers.”
Kolkata: The autobiography of former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav—Gopalganj to Raisina which can stir a storm in the Indian politics is all set to get public. By Sunday the book will be available across India, however, there will be no formal launch for it.
Senior journalist Nalin Verma has co-authored the book with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National President, who is now in jail in connection with fodder scam.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, the 70-year-old politician is one of the most colourful personalities in Indian politics.
Lalu Prasad is among the few politicians, who has been a member of all four houses of Indian political system—Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Assembly and Vidhan Parishad. He was the Chief Minister of Bihar, one of the most significant states of India, politically, for almost 10 years, and the Railway Minister of India.
The book, a political potboiler will reveal, Lalu Prasad’s role during the Emergency, Mandal Commission implementation, the arrest of LK Advani during the Rath Yatra, his acceptance of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister in 2004 and his relationship with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – a friend turned foe.
According to the book, Lalu Prasad has mentioned in it that Nitish Kumar had sent Prashant Kishor, a political strategist and Janata Dal (United)’s Vice President to meet him, five times, as Nitish wants to return back to the Mahagathbandhan. But RJD supremo refused it saying, he has lost faith on Nitish.
There are many such untold incidents related to Lalu Prasad in his autobiography. The timing for the book release (amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Election) is also significant. Interestingly, a biopic on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be released around this time.
The two sentences mentioned in the press communiqué released by the publisher Rupa Publications summarize the entire book.
“He is brutally honest about what he has won and what he has lost, about friends and foes within his party as well as outside.”
And, “This is more than just an utterly absorbing account; it is history with a vision. It reaffirms your faith in the promise of democracy, equality and justice in India.”
Kolkata: After almost three months of having hastily calling off Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brigade rally which was slotted immediately after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s mammoth United India Rally, PM Narendra Modi tried to show Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s strength at Mamata’s home turfs, with his twin rallies, one in Silliguri and the other in Kolkata.
However, later it became a face-off of a kind between Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee, and the credit goes to Trinamool Congress (TMC) superemo as she cancelled her rally and arranged a public meeting immediately after Modi’s rally to counter the the attacks made by Prime Minister.
Meanwhile at the Brigade ground, right from having mega tents to shield the attendees from the scorching April sun to hiring four trains and a huge number of buses to ferry BJP supporters from different parts of the state, the BJP did it all to have a humongous footfall. However, despite all the efforts to not have empty seats at the Brigade rally, the four trains were spotted near-empty by many, But the many followers who came by buses were spotted sporting attires in sync with the party colour – saffron.
PM Modi too came prepared to attack ‘didi’ on her own turf. While addressing his first rally scheduled in Silliguri, he called Mamata as the speed breaker for Bengal’s success. He said, “But Bengal has a speed breaker, whom they call ‘didi’. This ‘didi’ is the speed breaker in the path of Bengal’s development.” He further added that it was her, who had made it impossible for the common people in Bengal from benefitting from Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which offers Rs 5 lakh health scheme to the beneficiaries.
However, when he reached Kolkata’s Brigade ground, the Prime Minister chose to target Congress and its manifesto first. He said, “The Congress Manifesto expires on May 23.” He further alleged that the grand old party had aversion for all the chowkidars in India, including those at the Indian borders. Following which he again scathingly attacked Mamata, saying that – aunt-nephew regime runs Bengal and that it was they who are stalling the state’s progress.
While criticizing his opposition, he highlighted the achievement of his own government in a unique way, by saying that it was not Modi but the common man who had made surgical strikes, Make In India and Digital India successful.
However, ‘didi’ who is known for having the last say, chose to have her Dinhati rally in Coochbehar, scheduled immediately after PM Modi’s Rally. Mamata, reached the venue in chopper. She was accompanied with Bengali Cinestar and fresh TMC recruit Nusrat Jahan, who will be contesting the Lok Sabha election from Bashirhat.
During the rally, Mamata, gave a point by point rebuttal of the allegations made by PM Modi during his Silliguri and Brigade Rally. She even dared him to engage in a public debate with her, either on television on a public platform. Terming him as ‘Expiry babu’ and ‘Expiry PM’ she said, “Modi lies, I don’t.”
She roared, “I am not claiming, your government has awarded us for this achievement.” While saying so she was hinting at the West Bengal Government being awarded by the Government of India for having implemented the 100-day minimum work guarantee scheme in the best possible way. The West Bengal government has also been awarded by the United Nations in 2017 for its Kanyashree programme.
She even dared the PM during her rally, saying, “Catch me if you can, touch me if you can.” She further added that she didn’t need to get a certificate in nationalism from the PM to prove her loyalty and love for her nation.
Many believe that this was a face-off of a kind between Modi and Mamata, who could be strong contender for the PM post, if the united opposition touches magic figure.
Kolkata: Diamond Harbour is going to be one of the most interesting parliamentary constituencies to watch in West Bengal in the ongoing Lok Sabha Election. Here the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) is Abhishek Banerjee of Trinamool Congress, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fielded Dr Fuad Halim, a practicing doctor for the past 24 years, against Abhishek. CPIM was on second position in 2014. While Abhishek is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Dr Faud, popularly known as the people’s doctor is a true blue communist. He has the legacy of his father, Hashim Abdul Halim, the longest serving speaker of Bengal Assembly (29 years), the longest one in India, to follow. In an exclusive interview to eNewsroom, Dr Fuad Halim talked at length about various issue right from BJP’s politics of inducting alleged criminals and corrupt TMC leaders, to how TMC and BJP share the same birth mark, and the condition of healthcare system in Mamata and Modi raj, at his residence in Kolkata, hours before shifting to Diamond Harbour to starting his full fledged campaign. Following are the excerpts:
eNewsroom: You are contesting against one of the most powerful person (Abhishek Banerjee) of TMC. There have been several allegations against TMC for hooliganism and use of government machineries during elections. How will you fight it out?
Dr Fuad: The money and muscle power are lame before people’s power. Our organization and party clearly believe in the power of the people. The misuse of power and dubious use of it, has been exposed in past also, and it will be exposed in this election too. Ultimately it’s the people’s power which shall prevail.
eNewsroom: Recently Ravishankar Prasad, one of the ministers of Narendra Modi government met the election commission official and asked for the deployment of paramilitary forces in Bengal. Do you also agree with it? What’s your take on this issue?
Dr Fuad: The law and order situation is such in Bengal that most TMC leaders have been jailed or soon they will be behind bars. In fact TMC itself has lodged criminal cases against their own MP. This reflects the condition of law and order in the state. If you can mark this trend – most of the TMC leaders who have been accused for their alleged role in corruption and crime have all been inducted into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). So the demand of BJP should have been initiated in their camp by not giving tickets or accepting the tainted TMC leaders. In fact they are giving tickets to the established criminals of TMC and on the flip side; they are demanding forces to be deployed in every constituency.
Dr Fuad Halim at his clinic just before leaving for his constituency to campaign
eNewsroom: You are known as the People’s Doctor, and you have a legacy to follow. How are these going to help you in the election?
Dr Fuad: Number one, my medical career started after I joined politics, and I do not see any difference between my political ideology and the way I practice medicine. In fact, my medical practice is rooted from my understanding of medicine and political believes. Hence I am one person, with one identity. Both my identity have merged into one.
Second, I am a third generation politician from my family. People famously know my father (Hashim Abdul Halim) but my grandfather (Abdul Halim) was nominated as a councilor under the leadership of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose in Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The room and the building, where you are sitting now has a historic importance as it was in this room that Subodh Roy had gone underground and on the ground floor of this building the Hindustan Socialist Army used to have meetings. So my family has been involved in political activism prior to independence. And it is those ideas that I stand for and will take it forward by presenting to the people of the Diamond Harbour constituency, who are going to elect me.
eNewsroom: Being a doctor, with over two decades of experience, how you find the healthcare system in Bengal and your take on the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Modi government?
Dr Fuad: The neo-liberal thrust in the healthcare sector has been overarching and impacting the health policies at both the central and state level. If you look at the Ayushman Bharat programme then you will see that in one part, while it accords the card to people which will give benefits up to Rs 5 lakhs to the card holders, the government on the other hand is giving huge subsidy to private sector, specially to corporate to actually increase their capacity at the tax payer’s cost.
The second part, which is very clear, is withdrawal of the role of the state of public health infrastructure, because by making this card the Rupee One spent by the government was on the health system, will no benefit the public in totality as it earlier used to. Let me explain this – earlier if any government spent Rupee One on the public health system, then the entire one rupee was delivered to public in the form of healthcare service. But with the involvement of the insurance sector now the entire Rupee One will not be reaching the common man. About 40 per cent of the amount will now make its way to the coffers of the private insurance company.
Perhaps, now you can understand that about 40 percent of the money invested in the healthcare facility will remain underutilized, while these corporate will now have the increasing footfall of the poorest of the poor. In a way, the government is using the taxpayer’s money to increase the balance sheet of the private and corporate healthcare sector. Hence, no money will be spent while availing the Ayushman Bharat scheme will not be spent on public hospitals or public healthcare infrastructure. So, this is a clear death nail, that Narendra Modi wants to bring in terms of the public healthcare infrastructure and same time to insure that the profit of private-corporate profitability to go up at the cost of tax payers money.
At state level, we have seen 42 super specialty hospitals being constructed using the tax payers money. It is being presented as something new and innovative but its dysfunction is evident that Jhargram super specialty hospital has been handed over to the Jindal group. And now the procedure to have these 42 super specialty hospital privatized has been initiated.
Human resource has come down too, in 2011 there were almost 10000 doctors in West Bengal Health Service, but now it has been reduced to 6600. An attempt has been made to step it up by increasing the date of retirement, first from 60 to 62 years and now 62 to 65. But the massive decline of human resource issue is quite evident in the public healthcare system of Bengal.
eNewsroom: I have learnt that CPI (M) is going to campaign on two Cs—Corruption of TMC and Communalism of BJP, will it be the same for you or you will add something more to your campaign?
Dr Fuad: It’s very clear that when issues impacting the lives of common man are being raised, they not just get massive support but also political results. That we had seen during the Kisan Rallies and the All India General Strike.
And when we look at the political results we have seen BJP has been defeated in three major states, post these massive movements. Now we have also seen that wherever these issues have been raised, BJP comes forth with the communal agenda as they want to divert the attention. And not only BJP raise communal agenda but also create a binary of Indo-Pak issue. We need to understand that it is their political narrative, which we will counter it with the issue of farmers’ distress, unemployment, women’s safety and other issues which are core ones to the common man of India.
The issue of corruption has been strongly helped by BJP, in terms of supporting the TMC, by not taking action. And the corrupt people who were there in TMC and now making way into BJP and have become office bearers, namely Mukul Roy, Arjun Singh, Soumitra Khan. So these issues are definitely going to be raised in the context that the criminal, corruption and communalism are the common identity of TMC and BJP.
One has to keep it in mind that when TMC chose to have flower as its symbol, it was their association with BJP which had the Lotus as its symbol, so birthmark mark of TMC identifies with the BJP.
Kolkata: It rarely happens that someone who is a teenaged student takes up the responsibility of nurturing other children. But teenager Wali Rahmani, who has made waves with his YouTube videos, is doing some significant work for society, which is a rarity.
Motivational speaker Wali Rahmani
The 19-year-old law student has adopted 23 orphans with the intention of nurturing them as future leaders. He founded Umeed, an organization that works for the better future of orphaned kids and takes care of their overall development. On April 1, Umeed turned one and celebrated its first foundation day.
On the occasion, a small function was organized where Umeed kids exhibited their acquired skills—right from singing and showcasing karate skills to presenting a skit before the audience.
Umeed’s founder, Wali, while addressing the gathering, stated that the health of the kids is their top priority, as several kids adopted under the aegis of Umeed were malnourished but are now healthy.
Umeed has a 12-hour timetable for each student. In these twelve hours, not only do the students start their day with milk and breakfast, but they also get lunch and dinner at the center. They study the school syllabus, do extracurricular activities, and learn foreign languages.
“We believe that the kids who come from underprivileged backgrounds, if left after 5-6 hours of study, will return to the same environment from which they were brought to the academy. Hence, we keep them engaged in studies and many other activities, so that they return home, fall asleep, and wake up the next morning to come back to us,” claimed Wali.
Wali also made it clear that despite most of the kids in Umeed being orphans, the organization is not an orphanage. “In fact, the kids here are getting what my children would get when I become a father,” claimed the young philanthropist.
Watch eNewsroom‘s exclusive talk with Wali Rahmani, at his Kolkata office.
Ranchi: In 2018 when for the first time the concept of a united opposition alliance – Mahagathbandhan or gathbandhan was thought of, it was believe that it will be a collective association to defeat the ruling Bharatia Janata Party (BJP) and NDA.
Now with the election bugle being blown for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, there is no sign of the Left Party in the Bihar and Jharkhand gathbandhan.
On two seats, Jharkhand’s Koderma and Bihar’s Begusarai are the seats where Left has strong claim because its performance on Koderma and student leader Kanhaiya Kumar being CPI candidate from Bagusarai. CPI (ML) has been in the second position for two consecutive times – 2014 and 2009 on Koderma parliamentary seat. While party’s candidate Rajkumar is an MLA from Dhanwar, on of the six assembly segments which fall in Koderma constituency. But neither gathbandhan left its seat for CPI (ML) nor for Kanhaiya who made made waves as the youth leader. Thereby, making the gathbandhan’s claim of fighting against BJP now seems to be a hollow claim.
So now, along with BJP, Kanhaiya has to fight against RJD’s candidate Tanveer Hasssan too.
Some Muslim intellectuals are of the opinion that only a handful Muslim candidates get election ticket, hence Hassan should contest from Begusarai. And it also become must, as in Godda, they feel that another strong Muslim candidate, Furkan Ansari, had to leave the seat for JVM, as Congress did not defended the seat for Ansari.
However, in Koderma it is not an issue of minority candidate from gathbandhan, but about Babulal Marandi, who had secured the third position in 2014 election. Marandi is the gathbandhan candidate and will now be contesting against CPI (ML)’s Rajkumar Yadav, and BJP, whose name of the candidate is yet to be announced.
“By the same logic, based on which Babulal Marandi claimed the Godda Lok Sabha seat and took it from Congress, saying that his party’s Pradeep Yadav had fought on many issues there, including Adani Power’s forcible land grab, CPI (ML) and Rajkumar Yadav has fought for the people of Koderma in the last five years including their fight against lynching. But here Babulal ji did not follow the same rule,” said Vinod Singh to eNewsroom.
And since Left parties have been left out in Jharkhand’s gathbandhan, now CPI (ML) will contest on Palamau Lok Sabha seat too, while CPI will contest from the Hazaribagh.
Political analysts are of the opinion that on both the important seats, this might lead to division of secular votes and if the difference of divide will be higher, then BJP might get a chance to win.
“Between the years 2014 to 2019 India has witnessed the worst of BJP’s fascism and who fought against them by taking on to the roads were student leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar and parties like CPI (ML), but when it came to giving them representation or accommodating their parties, the double standard of secular parties got exposed. In fact, they have failed to understand the gravity of the situation and there has been not a well designed seat-sharing between gathbandhan parties, in any state,” said Amit Raja, a political analyst.
Kolkata: Fashion Designer Agnimitra Paul, from Kolkata has also worked with Bollywood celebrities and is known for her social work. However, with her joining Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the designer is all set to make a mark as a politician. She is expecting to get a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election in Bengal as BJP is yet to field candidate from Bengal’s two seats.
eNewsroom: From being Agnimitra Paul, the acclaimed fashion designer, you are now Agnimitra Paul, the politician… Agnimitra: (Laughs). I might don different mantles, but I will always be dedicated towards the work that I have been entrusted with.
eNewsroom: Why did you opt to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? Agnimitra: I joined BJP because I revere and admire Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. I have been following his work; his diplomatic policies; the different yojnas that he has started and in him, I find a leader who is a visionary; a doer and believes in leading from the front. He is always promoting India and has been working hard to put our country on the global map. Just look at the attention and position that India has garnered on an international scale under his leadership! I am in awe of him and he is my inspiration. I would really like to work with him and for him. I am looking forward to contribute to the kind of work that he is doing.
eNewsroom: So, will you be contesting in the elections this year? Agnimitra: I am very grateful to be given this opportunity to become part of BJP and if the party deems me fit and gives me the ticket then I shall definitely contest in the forthcoming elections. The party is yet to announce the contestants for two more seats in West Bengal. Let’s wait and watch.
eNewsroom: Did you always nurture an ambition to become a politician? Agnimitra: As you are aware, I have always been interested and actively involved in social work and social causes. I love working for the betterment of people, especially the underprivileged and it was my friend Mr. Parthasarathy Chowdhury who first suggested that I should join politics as that will enable me to reach out to more people and work for them on a larger scale. Parthasarathy had earlier been instrumental in me joining the censor board in 2016 and once again he acted as the catalyst…
eNewsroom: …And a friend’s suggestion turned into a motivating factor… Agnimitra: It did, but not overnight. But, the more I thought about his suggestion, I realised that a political platform will indeed enable me to reach out to the policy makers and it will also allow me to take the problems of the mass to the Parliament. I can be their voice. I can get projects that will benefit our people. Imagine being part of the policy making process!All these thoughts went on to shape my opinion and now that I have joined the field, allow me to state that I have not joined politics to earn/ make money. I firmly believe in the concept of developmental politics and that I have only one agenda – to make constructive difference in the lives of people.
eNewsroom: Let’s shift the focus from politics. You have recently launched a new project titled ‘Agnita’. Tell us something about it. Agnimitra: Agnita was launched in February this year and I am doing it with CII-IWN (Indian Women Network (IWN) launched by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)). The project is being funded by Tata. Under Agnita, we are training 150 underprivileged women in the Gosaba block in Sunderbans to stitch, thereby, empowering them to earn their own livelihood. The project will run for one-year now.Mr. Prashant Sharma of Charnock Hospital gave us the first order and now the hospital gowns and aprons are being stitched by the ‘Agnita’ women. Thus, they are learning on-the-job and also getting paid. It is an amazing feeling to see them smile.
eNewsroom: The final question: You must be aware of how ‘difference in opinion/ viewpoints’ over political issues/ agendas/ policies have recently led to friends and relatives to indulge in personal attacks and even ‘unfriending’ one another on social media. Do you think this is healthy? What is your take on this? Agnimitra: This is not acceptable at all. It is not right to indulge in personal attacks just because your opinion differs from mine about certain issues/ agendas et al. See, we need to invest in everything that is ‘healthy. Healthy competition; healthy relationships and health politics – these are the needs-of-the-hour. Personal mudslinging and ‘unfriending’ one another will not help at all. This attitude needs to change. In my opinion, every single person, every single political party should join hands and work as a team for the betterment of our country. Yes, there will be difference in opinions, but we need to let go of all kinds of disparities and work for common good.
Ranchi/Kolkata: It has been over a week, since Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared the names of its Lok Sabha election candidates for ten seats in Jharkhand. However, the name of candidates for Koderma, Chatra and state capital Ranchi is yet to be announced. All these three seats were won by the party in 2014. Out of the 14 parliamentary constituencies, Giridih has been left for its alliance partner AJSU.
And in last seven days, a lot of action seems to be going on within BJP, which rules in the both center and Jharkhand state, barring the announcement the names of the three candidates.
BJP successfully broke away Annapurna Devi, former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state chief and took her into its fold. Party also managed to bring in Girinath Singh, another senior RJD leader.
Amid all, the supporters of Ram Tahal Choudhary, the outgoing Member of Parliament from Ranchi created ruckus at the party office in state capital.
But the ruling BJP, which claims that they are going to win more seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha election than it did in 2014, has not declared names of Koderma seat for which they have roped in Annapurna Devi, nor they have shown courage to name a candidate for Ranchi seat, where Choudhary’s supporters have warned of dire consequences, nor for Chatra seat.
Significantly, BJP’s state president Laxman Gilua, in a press conference on Friday stated that the performance of three MPs — Ravindra Rai (Koderma), Choudhary and Sunil Singh (Chatra) have been poor, so they might not get tickets.
On Saturday morning, some vernacular media reported that the outgoing MP from Koderma, Rai whose future seems uncertain with BJP, could join Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM), which he had earlier joined for few years. According to the reports, Rai would be JVM’s candidate from Koderma instead of JVM chief Babulal Marandi.
However, when eNewsroom contacted Marandi, the former Chief Minister reacted by saying, “It is a planted news by BJP and its leaders, neither Rai is going to join JVM nor anybody else other than me will be contesting from Koderma seat.”
He then added, “Actually, BJP has been fearful since gathbandhan has formed. Its fear of losing is making it do such things. In fact today, my name has been declared for the Koderma seat,” he said.
The JVM chief added that BJP has no candidate to face gathbandhan, and it will fight with ‘borrowed’ players, “They (BJP) are delaying the names of these three seats, as they will fight with borrowed players.”
Meanwhile, the main opposition parties of Jharkhand, Congress, JMM, JVM and RJD is also to announce the names of their candidates in these three seats and other also. But on Saturday, JMM leader Sudivya Kumar Sonu shared a picture of party’s working president Hemant Soren, and Giridih’s probable candidate Jagarnath Mahto together in Ranchi, thereby ending all the speculations about JVM changing Mahto’s candidature for Giridih.
Ranchi: On Thursday renowned development economist Jean Dreze was detained by the Jharkhand Police in Garhwa district. The news shocked many as people both from Jharkhand and outside are much aware of his regular visits to various places in Jharkhand for issues related to social welfare schemes.
On Thursday, he was about to participate in a public meeting where issues of Right To Food were to be discussed but he along with the programme coordinators Vivek Kumar and Anuj Kumar were taken in custody by the Garhwa police.
Jean and others were accused of violating election’s Model Code of Conduct and that they had not taken permission to conduct the meeting. Police had threatened to send them jail under section 171, 172 and 173 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Significantly, a hand written press communiqué issued by the organizers mentioned that at the place where the meeting had been scheduled, a grand four-day religious function had been organized from March 16 to 19. During this meet several political parties even did their political campaigning amid loud music (50 loud speakers) which was played from 4 to 11 pm under the guidance of local police all the four days.
“It seems because of political pressure, police administration is harassing the people who are working for the poor,” read the letter.
Jean and others were detained for two hours at Bishunpura Police Station and later released only after furnishing some bound.
Garhwa police said that Jean was questioned for holding meeting without permission in the Police Station.
But even after getting released, Jean’s primary concern was that the meeting did not take place and not that he had been detained by the police.
After the incident, noted economist said on the entire episode to eNewroom, “It is disturbing that the administration did not feel it important to allow a peaceful meeting concerning the issues of livelihood to be organized in an area where poverty and exploitation is still rampant. The government’s understanding of democracy seems to be getting narrower by the day.”
The 60-year-old economist has played an instrumental role in the implementation of several social schemes including Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and Right to Food. He has even co-authored many books with Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.
Jharkhand, which has over 40 per cent its people living below poverty line, is one of the worst affected states when it comes to starvation. At least 16 people had died of hunger in 2018, in Jharkhand. One of the main reasons for the deaths was the cancellation of ration cards, on grounds of it not being linked to Aadhar. Thereby, depriving the poor of their rations and eventually causing starvation deaths in the state. The worst hunger death case, which had grabbed India’s attention, was of Santoshi Kumari’s who died asking for bhaat (cooked rice) from her mother.
Coming back to Jean’s arrest, right from Congress President Rahul Gandhi to former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Hemant Soren to student leader Kanhaiya Kumar to Swaraj Abhiyan’s National President Yogendra Yadav and over millions expressed shock over the detention of the economist on social media.
Rahul Gandhi even attacked on the ruling BJP, and said that BJP is in a state of war, with those who work for poor.
Ranchi: In a major political development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)’s state President Annapurna Devi along with few more RJD leaders and cadres are expected to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today.
Annapurna, the four times MLA from Koderma Assembly segment may get BJP’s symbol to contest either from Koderma or Chatra parliamentary constituency. Since Sunday evening it is being reported by vernacular media that RJD state chief, along with former RJD MLA Janardan Paswan and Manoj Bhuiya had met Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das at his residence in the presence of BJP’s National General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav.
Koderma parliamentary constituency has become a hotbed for politics for BJP. The Koderma Lok Sabha seat is a constituency where BJP has won maximum seven times, out of total 12 Lok Sabha polls took place in Koderma since its inception. When BJP used to have only two Member of Parliament (MP)s on from Lukhnow and other from Koderma, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Ritlal Verma respectively.
However, the biggest question that needs to be answered is – how will RJD’s chief joining BJP help the saffron brigade in Jharkhand, or impact the opposition’s unity?
But before getting into that, it becomes important to first understand the desperate situation of the ruling BJP and NDA in Jharkhand, after Congress, RJD and JMM got into an alliance. BJP think tank believes that by inducting Annapurna, whose husband Ramesh Prasad Yadav was a strong Yadav leader, the BJP will bring in Yadav voters and also put a stop to the opposition unity in Jharkhand.
However, BJP even after bringing in RJD state chief, will it gain much? Political analysts are of the opinion that the move could demoralize BJP’s traditional vote base in Koderma, which includes Bhumihar, Brahman and Vaishya communities. BJP cadres are already unhappy with party’s decision of giving away it’s strong base – Giridih’s seat to AJSU and it is expected that if sitting MP Ravindra Rai will not be given the ticket, then they might hit the street in a way similar to supporters gheraoing the BJP state office in Ranchi when MP Ramtahal Choudhury didn’t get ticket.
It is also a fact that the present cadre-base in Koderma and Giridih region had helped in BJP getting majority in the Parliament for the first time. And time will only tell about how successful the party will be with its decision of leaving Giridih seat for an ally, which has been closely followed with changing Rai’s candidature.
With Annapurna’s news doing the rounds, speculations are rife about the increasing possibility of Rai joining Babulal Marandi’s JVM, in case he is denied a ticket by the BJP. Rai has been BJP’s state chief during 2014’s Lok Sabha election.
This development will damage RJD in Jharkhand. The party has got one seat– Chatra in Mahagathbandhan. However, it will not affect the opposition as RJD has little presence in Jharkhand.
Meahwhile, sources said RJD has removed Annapurna Devi as Jharkhand state chief on Monday and made Gautam Sagar Rana her successor.
It is expected that Annapurna will join BJP in Delhi, today itself.
BJP has announced candidature for ten seats in Jharkhand and are yet to declare names on three other seats – Ranchi, Koderma and Chatra
