"Amit Shah should answer why Adivasis being excluded from this": CPI(M) on UCC in Jharkhand

New Delhi [India], November 5 : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) on Monday raised concerns over the exclusion of Adivasis from the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand, and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah provide clarity on the issue and ensure their rights and interests are protected.
"If the UCC is such a brilliant thing and can solve problems, Amit Shah should answer why are Adivasis being excluded from this. This is because Adivasis have their own rules about marriage, divorce and property. Today when the BJP is trying to get their votes, they do not want to anger them. But this question applies to others as well. If you look at the Hindu society, you will see hundreds of different ways of everything from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is important to understand the mentality of the BJP and the RSS is anti-Dalit, anti-women, anti-minority and also anti-tribal and all these things will be seen in the UCC," said Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Subhashini Ali.
Earlier, Union Minister Shah released the BJP's Sankalp Patra (Manifesto) and announced the party will implement UCC in Jharkhand but Adivasis will be excluded from it. He also said that the saffron party will "drive out infiltrators" coming from Bangladesh.
Reacting to this, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said that Bangladeshi infiltration is a matter of concern for the whole country and national security. He lashed out at the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand and the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal, saying that they should stop giving illegal shelter to Bangladeshis.
"Bangladeshi infiltration is a matter of concern for the whole country, for national security. Some governments do this for immediate political gains...Whether it is Soren's government of Jharkhand or Mamata Banerjee's government of Bengal, they should stop giving illegal shelter to Bangladeshis," Chugh said.
Elections for the 81-seat assembly in Jharkhand will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23.
Notably, under the INDIA alliance, commonly known as 'Mahagathbandhan' in the state, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and left parties will contest elections together, with JMM to contest polls on 43 seats while Congress will contest on 30 seats. RJD and left parties will contest elections on other remaining seats.
Amid the increase in violent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir targeting civilians, Ali defended the newly formed government saying that it was wrong to say that these attacks are happening only after the formation of the new government. This is a way to defame the newly formed government in J-K, she added.
Ali said that the newly elected government has no right or control over the police or security forces and everything remains in the hands of the centre. The Chief Minister was consulted over such issues earlier, but now it is not the case, she added.
"It is wrong to say that this is happening only after the formation of the new government. This is a way to defame the new government. If we see that when 370 was removed, it was said that after this terrorism would end and no one would be allowed to cross the border. Today it is a union territory. The newly elected government has no right or control over police or security forces. Earlier, the Chief Minister was consulted but now it is not the case. Now, the Chief Minister himself is telling the Army, police, and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) that you people should do something. If the elected government will not have any rights and everything will be in the hands of the centre, then there will be problems," Ali said.
She further stated that it was important to take the common public in confidence and develop trust.
"If we look at the voting, the common public is not in favour of the abrogation of Article 370 and making Jammu and Kashmir a union territory. If you don't take the common public in confidence and develop trust, it will be difficult," the CPI (M) leader said.
Meanwhile, Chugh said that the recent attack that happened in Srinagar was a cowardly move.
"The incident that happened in Srinagar is condemnable and a cowardly step. Our security agencies are continuously crushing every plan and conspiracy of terrorists. A few days ago, a top terrorist was killed by our security forces. Those who bear arms and attack civilians will also be taken care of (by security forces). Such attacks only show that they are in panic," Chugh said.