An upset Congress MLA Dr Hiralal Alawa, founder of tribal organisation Jai Adiwasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), is planning to field a candidate on behalf of his organisation for the upcoming Jhabua by-polls, if the 'Congress government in Madhya Pradesh continues to neglect tribal issues'.
Alawa, who shot into limelight after the show of strength by his organisation JAYS ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections, was given a Congress ticket and became an MLA from Manawar in Dhar district.
He told THE WEEK that a tribal mahapanchayat (mega convention) will be held on September 8 in Jhabua, which will be attended by tribal people, mainly youth from various districts of Madhya Pradesh and other states. “The decision on fielding a separate candidate, as well as the stand to be taken vis-a-vis the Congress government's neglect would be decided in this mahapanchayat,” Alawa said.
The Jhabua Assembly seat fell vacant after BJP MLA G.S. Damor resigned from the the assembly after being elected to the Lok Sabha. The by-poll has not been announced yet, but is likely soon.
The young tribal leader has been airing his anger on the Congress government ever since its formation as he was not considered for a ministerial berth. He again upped the ante against the government and said 'no options would be left' if tribal issues were neglected.
“We played a big role in ensuring that the Congress formed the government in MP, but none of our key issues has been addressed during the last eight months. There has been not a single step on implementation of Schedule 5 laws, formation of the Tribal Advisory Council, to formulate a plan to stop large-scale migration from tribal districts or implementation of PESA rules. Also no steps have been taken to ensure that the tribal people do not lose their lands or houses under the Forest Rights Act,” the MLA said while speaking to THE WEEK.
He also said that the Congress ministers do not respond to him regarding the work to be done for the electorate in his constituency. Most of them do not even take his phone calls, Alawa alleged.
Alawa said he is scheduled to meet the chief minsiter Kamal Nath on Tuesday and will be putting across all these points before him.
“However, the decision on relation with the government as well as fielding a candidate for Jhabua by-polls will be taken by the mahapanchayat, where I will share details of my discussion with the chief minister,” the MLA said.
Congress media cell chief Shobha Oza said that it was totally unjustified to say that the tribal issues were being ignored by the government as Chief Minister Kamal Nath was “making extra efforts to ensure tribal welfare”.
“Tribal welfare is among government's top priorities. The CM took decision to rid the tribal of long standing debts, announced a Tribal Day and has taken many other welfare decisions for them. The Forest Rights Act is our baby and we will ensure that all eligible people get the benefits,” Oza said, adding that the MLA will certainly iron out his grievances during his scheduled meeting with the CM.