AAM demands 75 per cent reservation in govt job

Ranchi, May 3 (UNI) The Adivasis Adhikar Morcha (AAM) today criticised the different political parties, including the Congress, since it refused any tribal politician to get prominent position at the national level.

The Morcha while demanding 73 per cent reservation for SC/STs and other backwards classes in Jharkhand as earlier promised by former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, also stressed the need for getting recognised as 'Adivasis' and not as 'Vanavasis or Janajatis'.

Morcha's chief convenor and former parliamentarian Salkhan Murmu presiding over a function held to release the 'adivasi manifesto' expressed concern over the fact that tribal population was depleting at an alarming pace in the state.

Mr Murmu alleged that many senior adivasi leaders, including Chief Minister Arjun Munda, JMM supremo and Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren and Pradip Balmuchu (Cong) had done nothing for the betterment of their own communities.

He said BSP leaders Kansi Ram and Ms Mayavati fight for dalits, while Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD leader and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and Lok Janshakti leader and Union Minister Steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan raise voice for the interest of minorities and their respective communities which was not seen in the case of any tribal leaders.

Before releasing the manifesto chief guest of the function Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo told newspersons that his coming to the function did not necesssarily mean his involvement in politics.

" I am a cardinal as well as a tribal," he said adding " we have to think of our community too." UNI PRS-SCS KK DB1856