Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the lead tribal party in the state’s ruling coalition has joined the political bandwagon by passing a political resolution in favour of reserving 27% seats in government and private jobs and educational institutes for the Other Backward Caste (OBC) candidates.
The resolution was taken at the party’s 12th general convention here on Saturday. But Congress, its key ally in the ruling coalition, took the move with a pinch of salt.
Talking to TOI on Sunday, a senior Congress leader said, “For two years now, our party has been pitching for 27% reservation for the OBC section. Time and again, delegations have met chief minister Hemant Soren and urged him to make a move in this direction. Though he has assured us every time, his government has not shown the intent in doing so.”
Another senior Congress leader said, “What is the point of passing a resolution when you already have it in your election manifesto? Being the principal ruling party, the JMM could have simply brought legislation on it. Along with the reservation for the OBC category, the resolution also speaks of reserving 28% for ST and 12% for SC. The writing on the wall is clear: JMM is not very serious about it.”
The JMM leadership did not respond when contacted about the issue on Sunday evening.
The tribal party’s political resolution on industries, mines and employment generation has also brought concern among the state’s industrialists. In the resolution taken on Saturday, the party favoured returning unused land that are occupied by the industries to the original landowners (Raiyyats).
“Many industries acquire land keeping in mind their long-term plans of expansions and other paraphernalia. So, if a patch of land lies unused for some time, it does not necessarily mean that it will not be used,” Philip Mathew, the president of Jharkhand Small Industries Association, told TOI.
“However, there are many people who acquire land in the name of setting up industries and then hoard it for selling at higher prices. Instead of a sweeping directive, there should be mechanisms to detect such hoarding,” Mathew said.
Expressing skepticism about the resolution, a city-based industrialist said, “On one hand, the CM is urging top tier corporate houses to set up shops in the state and on the other, the JMM’s political resolutions are creating an air of confusion and skepticism about the industrial climate of the state.”
The resolution was taken at the party’s 12th general convention here on Saturday. But Congress, its key ally in the ruling coalition, took the move with a pinch of salt.
Talking to TOI on Sunday, a senior Congress leader said, “For two years now, our party has been pitching for 27% reservation for the OBC section. Time and again, delegations have met chief minister Hemant Soren and urged him to make a move in this direction. Though he has assured us every time, his government has not shown the intent in doing so.”
Another senior Congress leader said, “What is the point of passing a resolution when you already have it in your election manifesto? Being the principal ruling party, the JMM could have simply brought legislation on it. Along with the reservation for the OBC category, the resolution also speaks of reserving 28% for ST and 12% for SC. The writing on the wall is clear: JMM is not very serious about it.”
The JMM leadership did not respond when contacted about the issue on Sunday evening.
The tribal party’s political resolution on industries, mines and employment generation has also brought concern among the state’s industrialists. In the resolution taken on Saturday, the party favoured returning unused land that are occupied by the industries to the original landowners (Raiyyats).
“Many industries acquire land keeping in mind their long-term plans of expansions and other paraphernalia. So, if a patch of land lies unused for some time, it does not necessarily mean that it will not be used,” Philip Mathew, the president of Jharkhand Small Industries Association, told TOI.
“However, there are many people who acquire land in the name of setting up industries and then hoard it for selling at higher prices. Instead of a sweeping directive, there should be mechanisms to detect such hoarding,” Mathew said.
Expressing skepticism about the resolution, a city-based industrialist said, “On one hand, the CM is urging top tier corporate houses to set up shops in the state and on the other, the JMM’s political resolutions are creating an air of confusion and skepticism about the industrial climate of the state.”
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