Koda govt gives in to Oppn pressure over converted tribal issue

Ranchi, Mar 13 (UNI) The Madhu Koda-led UPA government in Jharkhand today climbed down with Speaker Alamgir Alam announcing to form a House Committee to look into the matter regarding status of ''converted tribals'' and ''sharna adivasis'' in the State.

Despite the Treasury Bench's repeated refusal to concede the BJP-led Opposition kept intensifying pressure for the second consecutive day, which finally forced the Speaker to grant their demand for the House Committee comprising all political parties.

Since yesterday, the Opposition had been creating hullabaloo in the House, demanding implementation of the Supreme Court order on the identification of Scheduled Tribes to provide facilites entitled to them as per the Constitution.

The government yesterday rejected proposal for a House Committee saying the court guidelines were clear and it was required to take up the matter for debate in the House.

As the House resumed business in the morning the Opposition raised the issue allowing no other business.

Even members of the Treasury Bench made sarcastic remarks saying that since the Apex Court guidelines were in English, the same should be translated into Hindi so that the Opposition could understand the meaning.

With attacks and counter-attacks going unabated, leading to din, the Speaker finally gave his consent for the committee.

Yesterday, the Opposition expressed concern over the matter alleging that the conversion rate was alarmingly high in minority educational insititutions, where the children were being admitted only after conversion.

Chaos reigned in the House with the Opposition pressing for a reply from the government on the religious status of converted tribals in the State.

The House, which was adjourned thrice during the first half of the session, again witnessed uproars over the same issue after the recess, compelling Speaker Alamgir Alam to adjourn the House for the fourth time.

UNI PRS LL GT RS1729