Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Jharkhand BJP chief spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo on Monday alleged that the Christian gathering held in Ranchi had exposed the “reality” of the political alliance between the Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Shahdeo said the event, projected as a gathering for tribal unity, saw no senior JMM leader on the stage despite Chief Minister Hemant Soren being invited as the chief guest. He said Soren did not attend the programme and instead sent a party MLA.
Questioning the representation of different sections of the tribal community, Shahdeo claimed that converted tribals were disproportionately represented among MLAs elected from seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes. He alleged that the Congress had forgotten its own slogan of “representation according to population”.
Calling the gathering a “Congress-Christian rally” rather than a tribal mega-rally, Shahdeo said the BJP viewed tribal communities as an integral part of Jharkhand’s identity and development rather than merely a vote bank. He claimed people would now judge political parties on their work rather than slogans.
Shahdeo also criticised the Congress over an alleged directive issued by an archbishop asking Christians, including priests and members of religious orders, to participate in the rally. He described the communication as similar to a “fatwa” and questioned the Congress’ silence on the matter.
He alleged that political parties had historically sought the intervention of religious leaders for electoral purposes and accused the Congress of continuing the practice.
