Author: Nityanand Shukla/ Ranchi
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 29, 2003
The controversial Domicile policy,
which has claimed about one dozen lives across the state in the last one
year, has not only brought the political parties under the cloud but the
role of missionaries is also being questioned.
Though the issue was propagated
by former chief minister Babulal Marandi, it was allegedly tactfully used
by the missionaries in the state. Even the intelligence department has
reservations about the role of Christian missionaries.
The Tuesday examination proved that
there is something wrong with the missionary-run school and colleges. "Most
of the incidents took place at missionary run school on Tuesday. In one
incident. petrol was splashed at one school before the examination and
was lit after the examination began," said a state intelligence officer
to The Pioneer. Trouble during the examination was witnessed at St Louis
school, St Francis schools and others .
Ranchi Senior Superinten-dent of
Police (SSP) has reportedly ordered an FIR against principal of St Louis.
His role in Tuesday trouble has been found questionable.
According to intelligence reports,
the Purilia road is a hub of pro-domicile activity. In this road, a church,
a missionary run school, as well as colleges and hostels are located. "Due
to the hostels located in this area, the presence of converted tribal Christians
is maximum. The students of these hostels come out on streets and create
trouble in the name of pro -domicile supporters," said an intelligence
official adding "even the missionaries are extending financial support
to them". According to intelligence department, the missionaries are scared
of the BJP Government, which they feel is promoting right wing groups in
tribal areas to prevent the expansion of Christianity.
The domicile issue cropped up last
year, when the former chief minister tried to strengthen the tribal slogan
to save his chair.
"The pro-domicile leaders are getting
indirect support from the former chief minister. The non-existent persons
were promoted to lead the pro-domicile agitation," admitted a senior BJP
leader.
Even police found it tough to act
against pro-domicile leaders. Reacting to differences between the previous
and present government, a senior police official told The Pioneer "in the
previous regime, we were directed not to take action against any pro -domicile
leader. Despite FIRs, we did not dare to arrest them. The present government
led by Arjun Munda has however, given us a free hand".
Most of the pro-domicile leaders
including BJP, MP Salkhan Murnmu are cooling their heels in jails.
The main opposition party Jharkhand
Mukti Morcha (JMM) is always ready to get political mileage out of it.
The domicile policy was implemented
by Marandi, according to which only those persons were eligible for government
jobs, whose forefathers' name figure in land record of 1932.
At that time JMM had said that the
people living in the state are residents of Jharkhand and they would not
be discriminated against.
However, when the present chief
minister Arjun Munda decided to conduct the primary school teachers' examination,
the JMM shifted from it previous stand.
"JMM wants to take political mileage
from the domicile issue. It is itself confused and is only trying to confuse
the people. It want to keep the traditional voters intact and wean away
the new ones. But this politics will not work," the chief minister said.
opposition leader and JMM member
Stephen Marandi counters: "Local people should be given preference for
government jobs. They have been deprived of their rights for a long time".
Notwithstanding the politics over
the domicile issue, the chief ministers seems to be determined to appoint
teachers. He said after the appointment of primary school teachers, constables
would be appointed.
"When appointments will not be made
then how will we solve the unemployment problem," the chief minister said.
Considering all this, the domicile issue is likely to snowball in the future
considering the role of Christian missionaries and political parties.
