Jamshedpur, July 10: The Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) today criticised the nda government for not instituting an inquiry to ascertain Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda's tribal status. Criticising the NDA-government's "dual policy", JDP central president Sumitra Murmu said when an inquiry could be ordered against Chattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi for similar reasons, why could not it be instituted against Munda?
Expressing hope that the JDP would get support from the Congress on this issue, she said JDP founder Salkhan Murmu would raise the matter in the coming session of Parliament.

The JDP president said that a special messenger of Ajit Jogi had recently met Salkhan Murmu, a dissident BJP MP, a couple of days ago and inquired about the allegation levelled by his party with regard to Munda's tribal status.

Murmu had recently alleged the Jharkhand chief minister belonged to 'patar' community, which was enlisted in ST category in December last year.

Murmu had questioned that in such a case, how could Munda contest the 1995 and 2000 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections from reserved Kharswan constituency.


She said the JDP founder had written letters to the president, election commissioner, opposition party leaders in the Jharkhand Assembly and the Speaker to institute an inquiry into the matter.
She also announced that the JDP would field Murmu against Munda from Kharswan in the next assembly poll in Jharkhand.

Bureau Report