BJP leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Wednesday said that the people of the state would have had to wait for many years and could have made more sacrifices, if former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had not granted statehood.
Paying tribute to Vajpayee on his 100th birth anniversary, Soren, in a post on X, said the former prime minister had fulfilled his promise of a separate Jharkhand despite strong opposition from the RJD government in the then undivided Bihar.
“While addressing an election rally in Dumka in 1999, Atal ji had promised, ‘If you help form my government, I will gift you a separate state’. And he announced a separate Jharkhand soon after the BJP formed the government at the Centre, ending the decades-long struggle of the people of Jharkhand. Respected the movement.
“Had the BJP government led by Atal ji not formed the state of Jharkhand, especially given the previous Congress government’s stand on the demand, the people of Jharkhand might have had to wait and struggle for many years, perhaps making more sacrifices,” Soren said.
The BJP leader said Vajpayee had a deep connection with Jharkhand, especially Jamshedpur, and had visited the state several times, drawing large crowds to his meetings.
Soren said Vajpayee had initiated many development projects in the state.
The former chief minister said that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was formed in 1999 under the leadership of Vajpayee, which gave impetus to the development of tribal communities across the country.
He said that the Santhal community had fought tirelessly to include the Santhal language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Despite repeated demands rejected by previous Congress governments, the Vajpayee-led government finally gave constitutional recognition to the Santhali language (with Ol Chiki script) in 2003, Soren said.
“Atal ji had a clear vision for Jharkhand, especially for the welfare of the tribal community. He came up with various schemes for their upliftment. However, corruption is rampant in the state today. A mountain of cash has been discovered and the tribal population is rapidly declining as intruders are occupying our land. 6. Atal ji will be sad to see this where he is today,” said the former chief minister.
However, the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the center is working to fulfill Atal Ji’s dream. The PM Janman Yojana for tribal welfare, launched last year, and the 88 Eklavya model schools being built in Jharkhand will help educate and empower tribal communities, realizing Atal ji’s vision, Soren added.
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package