Drought in Jharkhand - Occasion for Celebration

Drought to quench parched ambitions of parties in Jharkhand

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi

Drought is the common theme running across the regional parties of Jharkhand. Whether to extend a helping hand or not is not a matter of much concern for the khadi-clad gentlemen. But when it comes to cashing in on the situation for their own political gains; everyone wants to take the lead. So, drought is all set to be the key word for the politicians of the State in the ensuing elections of the State Assembly.

While Jharkhand Vikash Morcha led by Babulal Marandi has called for a statewide bandh on October 10, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has planned to hold a rally in Ranchi the same day and also on the same issue.

Both the regional chieftains have the same agenda of Jharkhand being declared famine hit. The very next day the BJP too has announced its intention to gherao the Raj Bhavan reiterating its demand to dissolve the Assembly and hold elections. The two consecutive days will prove crucial for the State and its political parties; an occassion where the bosess of the JVM, JMM and BJP will test their hold over their core constituents that hold the key to their success in the electoral war.

Elaborating the agenda and the demand of his party, Babulal Marandi has sought support from all foes and friends, cutting across party lines, for the success of the bandh. The bandh, he said, has been called in the larger interest of the people of Jharkhand who are reeling under poverty and hunger due to the drought.

“I appeal to all the political parties and organisations not to hold any public programme on that day as a mark of solidarity towards the larger interest,” Marandi said at the press conference on Saturday afternoon at the party office. Marandi alleged that the State Government under the President’s Rule was not serious about drought in the State and feared the situation might go out of hand if the neglect of authorities persisted.

While the State administration has claimed to have reorganised its Public Distribution System, Marandi termed it as an eyewash. To him the Goverenment was just projecting false records and was hardly aware of the fact that a majority of the poor were still fighting for a handful of grains.

“Our demands to ensure food grains and jobs for the people were not taken seriously by the Governor when we had met him last in the month of August. We had set a deadline of October 9 to meet our demands.

There is no improvement in the situation. We are forced to give the call for a statewide bandh,” Marandi said demanding the farmers of the State be paid Rs 10000 each, as compensation against the loss of their crops.”

Meanwhile, both the JMM and the BJP feel that Marandi has tactically announced the Jharkhand bandh to as to prevent the massive gathering of its party workers for rally and demonstration at the Raj Bhavan the following day. “He (Babulal) is talking like a saint and asking everyone to follow him. Why should the JMM defer its rally because of the JVM. We had announced our programme months back and Marandi has come out suddenly without consulting anybody,” JMM chief whip Mathura Mahto said.

As far as the BJP is concerned, Babulal Marandi seems to have compensated the loss he had suffered at the hands of the BJP earlier.

It will be for the second time in this year when the BJP will gherao the Raj Bhavan. Earlier the party had played its cards smartly in outwitting Babulal Marandi whose party had called for a similar gherao of Raj Bhavan. Acting lately the BJP too had announced a similiar agitation a month before the JVM was scheduled to do it.

I don't know how many of you will recall it.
We had a story in our Hindi book called "Prayaschit", meaning Repentance.
A woman was annoyed with a cat which was regularly drinking their milk.
One day she saw the cat drinking, went up quietly behind her and hit it with a stick.
The cat fell flat.
Hearing the noise, the other womenfolk came rushing and saw the cat lying motionless.
Killing a cat is very inauspicious for us Hindus.
Penance has to be done.Many Pujas, hawans have to be performed and alms including food, money and also gold has to be given away. A small locket of a gold cat is also to be given away to the brahmin to atone for the sin.
I can vouch for this as my mother too had to give away a gold locket with a cat embossed and perform other pujas as a cat had been accidently killed at our home by a sack of wheat accidently falling on it.
The womenfold were shocked on seeing the still cat.
They immediately sent word to the pandit that a cat had been killed and he was to perform necessary pujas.
The Pandit announced to his wife that no meals were to be made for the next few days as everything would come from the Jajman's(where the cat had been killed) house.
He got ready, put on his new dhoti, applied tilak on his head and slipped on his new sandal and was ready to move out.
Just then a boy came rushing in saying, "Panditji, the cat has got up and run away. You don't have to come"
You may imagine the poor pandit's plight.

The above article on Jharkhand's drought reminds me of the "Prayschit" story.
All the leaders of all the political parties are rubbing their hands in glee at this God-given opportunity.
There is no difference between them.
They are all scoundrels, out to make quick money.
The people may suffer but this is an occasion for celebration.
Of the thousands of crores they are demanding from the centre, they will spend 10% and pocket the rest.
Rajiv Gandhi and his son Rahul Gandhi have accepted this fact.
ONE MAN'S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN'S POISON?