CM accuses BJP behind Guv return of 1932 Khatiyani Bill
Seraikela, January 30: Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that the BJP is trying to destabilize the JMM- led UPA government in Jharkhand through the Governor and drew parallel with other non-BJP states facing similar situations.
Referring to the 1932 Domicile Bill which was returned by the Governor on Sunday, the chief minister said, “Returning of the domicile bill by the Governor is not new. The BJP is trying to destabilize the government through the Governor. This is not Delhi, Jammu –Kashmir or for that matter Andaman Nicobar. This is Jharkhand, whatever the government wishes it will be implemented and not the dictates of the Governor), ” said the chief minister addressing a huge gathering, as a part of Khatiyani Johar Yatra at the Birsa Munda Stadium in adjoining Seraikela- Kharsawan district this afternoon.
His statement came a day after Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais returned a bill, which proposes to use the 1932 land records to determine the domicile status of people, to the state government for a review on the legality of the proposed legislation.
Speaking at Khatiyani Johar Yatra, a mass outreach programme, in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharswan district, Soren said that he is yet to see the reply of the governor on the bill.
“This is not new that the governor is going against the thinking of the government. This is not happening only in Jharkhand, but also in several other states where BJP is not in power. They are being troubled through governors,” he said.
In a special session of the assembly on November 11 last year, the Jharkhand Definition of Local Persons and for Extending the Consequential Social, Cultural and Other Benefits to such Local Persons Bill, 2022 had been passed by voice vote.
The governor has asked the state government to “review the legality of the bill” and said that it should be “following the Constitution and orders and directions of the Supreme Court”.
Without taking any name, Soren said, “They claimed that this law is not constitutional. Is giving jobs to people like Adivasis and Moolvasis on a priority basis unconstitutional? We have to go for a long battle for this. But, we will win for sure.”
According to the bill, people whose ancestors were living in the state before 1932 and whose names were included in that year’s land records will be considered residents of Jharkhand.
Earlier, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s district tour program of Seraikella Kharsawan saw him interacting with the ground reality of the arrangements and development works of the government and to interact with the public and participated in several programs.
Chief minister informed the people about the work, activities and priorities of the government, he also became aware of the problems of the people.
The Chief Minister inspected the ongoing work of barrage construction on Kharkai river at Ganjia in Gamharia under Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project. He told the officials that the remaining works related to the construction should be completed as soon as possible. On this occasion, he garlanded the statue of Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.
The Chief Minister wished for the state’s progress, happiness-prosperity, peace and harmony by offering prayers in full rituals at Durga Mandir, Hari Mandir Dugdha and Titirbila Jaher place located at Gopabandhu Chowk in Seraikela. He bowed down to the great freedom fighter and litterateur Gopabandhu Das ji by garlanding his statue.
People thronged many places including Dumardiha, Chanwar Bala in the district to greet the Chief Minister during his visit. The Chief Minister accepted everyone’s greetings and also inquired about their problems. He assured the villagers that resolution of problems is one of government’s top priorities.