The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) launched a sharp counterattack on Monday against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its criticism of the recently approved PESA rules. The party accused the BJP of deliberately misleading the people of Jharkhand for its own political motives.
JMM Defends a Historic Milestone
Hitting out at the opposition, the JMM stated that the approval of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act rules by the state cabinet in December last year marked a significant achievement. Party general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya emphasized that this was the first time such rules had been framed specifically for Jharkhand, calling it one of the landmark decisions of the incumbent government.
BJP's Alleged Anti-Tribal Stance Exposed
In a scathing remark, Bhattacharya linked the BJP's criticism to its alleged support for systems that exploit rural and tribal communities. "These (BJP) are the same people who stand with the moneylending system in villages, stand with those who loot forest produce from villages and represent the mafia system in illegal mines deals," he said. He argued that the BJP is terrified because the PESA rules 2025 will empower the gram sabha (village council) with decisive authority over local policies and revenue, as intended by the original Act.
Former BJP CMs Face Criticism
Bhattacharya also targeted former chief ministers from the BJP, questioning their sudden concern for PESA. "The great personalities of BJP who are now speaking about PESA are those who did nothing for this when they were in power," he claimed. He accused them of having a record of duping tribal communities, unleashing atrocities, and causing displacement instead of strengthening their rights.
The JMM leader asserted that since the rules were notified, none of the traditional tribal gram sabha heads have criticized the move. "Rather, the tribals are welcoming it as it will now guarantee them the powers in scheduled areas," he claimed, positioning the rules as a crucial step for tribal self-governance and empowerment in the state.
