Nitish Kumar slams BJP for appointing non-tribal chief minister in Jharkhand

Patna, Dec 26: Taking strong exception to selection of non-tribal Raghubar Das as the new Jharkhand CM, senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Friday slammed BJP for breaking the tradition of a tribal heading the government in neighbouring state since its inception in 2000. [Raghubar Das becomes Jharkhand's first non-tribal CM: All you need to know]

"It has been a tradition that a tribal has headed all governments so far in Jharkhand since its inception in 2000," Kumar said.

By making a non-tribal as the next Jharkhand chief minister, the BJP has not only broken a long standing tradition but has also sent out a message that it has no faith in the tribal people of that state, he said.

"Jharkhand was created to cater to the aspirations of the tribal people and the sentiment was reflected in the fact that the chief minister's post had gone to tribal population as a matter of their right so far," Kumar said.

Claiming that the tribal population of Jharkhand may feel aggrieved and uncomfortable with a non-tribal leader leading the state government, the senior leader charged the BJP with laying foundation of 'disaffection' between the tribal and non-tribals in the neighbouring state, which he alleged, fitted with the divisive politics being pursued by the saffron party.

PTI