The language issue in Jharkhand, instead of dying down after the government partially accepted the demands of the agitators of Dhanbad and Bokaro, became a headache for the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
Amit Kumar, former JMM MLA from Silli and an executive committee member of the JMM, along with his wife Seema Mahto, who is also a former Silli MLA, resigned from the party on related issues on Sunday.
“I had given an ultimatum on January 20 that I would resign from the party if the government didn’t announce the domicile and employment policies based on Khaiyan or land records according to the survey settlement of 1932 within a month,” Amit told The Telegraph after sending his resignation to the party supremo Shibu Soren, adding he resigned because his demands were not fulfilled.
“Instead of considering only the tribal and regional languages of the state, they included other languages that would deprive local people of employment opportunities,” he further said, adding domicile and employment policies should be strictly based on the 1932 khatiyan.
“I along with other local youths pinned much hope on the JMM and Hemant Bhaiya as the BJP and the Ajsu party that ruled the state for nearly 17 years didn’t care for us and served their own interests,” Amit, known as close to chief minister Hemant Soren, further said, alleging the Hemant government also failed to live up to their expectations during the past two years and adopted such policies that made no difference.
Instead of facilitating employment opportunities for the local youths, the Hemant government allowed entry of outsiders as anyone who passed Class X and XII in the state now became eligible for local jobs, he pointed out.
“This shrank employment opportunities of local people who now feel deprived,” Amit, the engineer turned politician in his late thirties, further said.
“I have no faith in any political party anymore and would fight for ensuring rights of Jharkhandi people,” he replied when asked if he would join or form any political party.
“Compared to the number of job seekers, there’s not many jobs available in the state but this type of outburst may help Amit gain popularity among youth,” commented an observer.
