The politics in the state of Chhattisgarh has become heated following a controversial statement by the state’s Excise Minister, Kawasi Lakhma, regarding tribals. Lakhma claimed that tribals are not Hindus, a statement that has created a lot of backlash. Tribal leader Kedar Nath Kasshayp has come forward to criticize Lakhma’s statement, saying that tribals have been worshiping Hindu deities for generations and celebrate Hindu festivals, making Lakhma’s statement baseless. The leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have taken Lakhma’s statement as an opportunity to attack the Congress party.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has indirectly criticized the opposition party (BJP) for their treatment of tribal leaders as Chief Ministers. Soren pointed out that in the last two decades, no tribal leader of the state was allowed to continue as the Chief Minister for more than three years. He cited examples of former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda who were removed from office before their terms were completed. However, Soren pointed out that a Chhattisgarhi, Raghuvar Das, was allowed to complete his five-year term as Chief Minister. The JMM leader was apparently referring to former Chief Minister Raghuvar Das, whose ancestral home was at Boirhide in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district. Chief Minister Hemant Soren was speaking at a rally organized on the occasion of 51st foundation day of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
