BJP renews attack on Cardinal Toppo

Ranchi, May 7 (UNI) The controversy over Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo's 'adivasi manifesto' refused to die down with the BJP today alleging that the religious leader was ''influenced by foreign missionaries'' and ''does not deserve to talk in favour of local adivasis''.

Senior state BJP leader Dr Samar Sinha alleged ''Cardinal Toppo sacrificed the adivasi tradition and culture for his 'personal gain' and lost the right to release the manifesto''.

" The religious leader was trying to misguide innocent 'vanavasis' and 'sarnas' with the new coinage of adivasis.''the BJP leader said.

''The people of Jharkhand are alert and will not fall prey to the missionaries '' he said.

The Cardinal had said yesterday that ''there was no bar for a religious head working for development of his own community''.

Clarifying his stand on the controversy that arose after he released a tribal manifesto brought out by the Adivasi Adhikar Manch (AAM), a non-government organisation, Cardinal Toppo said, ''Being a tribal and son of the soil I am concerned at the pathetic condition of the tribals.'' He said his position of a religious head did not cease the right to work for tribal welfare. ''I am the first tribal from Asia to be elevated to such a position,'' he said.

Meanwhile, state Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) vice-president Uday Shankar Ojha demanded the Cardinal to refrain from making sensitive statements.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) district committee also took strong exception to the Cardinal's reported allegations that its Supremo Sibu Soren was ''anti-tribal''.

UNI PRS TJP/SRC LS GC1306