Reprinted with permission from http://persecution.in
Samal admits inclusion of ''Kui'' in tribal list was done by BJP lead Federal GovernmentBhubaneswar, Mar 11 - Admitting that inclusion of 'Kui' in the list of tribals by the then NDA government at the Centre was a "mistake", former BJP minister Manmohan Samal today said dispute over fake caste certificate issue triggered violence in Kandhamal in 2008. During his cross examination before the S C Mohapatra commission of inquiry probing the Kandhamal riot, Samal said the term - Kui (a language and not a tribal sub-group) was introduced in the list of tribals in Orissa through a constitution amendment by the NDA government in 2002-03."When it was realised that the amendment may cause difficulties, our party took steps to delete it," he said during cross-examination by government pleader Bijay Patnaik.Samal, who appeared before the commission for the third day, however, said that BJP resolved about amendment of Kui term and a resolution was passed and given to the chief minister by a party delegation.A copy of the resolution was also sent to the central government. Many members of the BJP's legislature party had raised the issue in the Assembly, he said.The former minister, who had held chief minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the Kandhamal riot, said that taking advantage of speaking in Kui language, many non-tribals obtained tribal certificates.
Tribals felt that non-tribals were taking away their benefits by obtaining fake caste certificates. Therefore, Samal said, tribals were angry with Pano scheduled caste people who were converted to Christianity."It was a mistake of NDA government and we have tried to correct it," he said, adding that BJP had not taken the issue of inclusion of Kui in tribal list to the court of law.Asked to clarify reasons for blaming the chief minister, Samal said he had cautioned Patnaik several times that tribals demands, including caste certificate issue and land problems, need to be resolved soon."I had not given any written complaint to the chief minister," Samal said replying a question by the government pleader, adding that he had absolute faith on the chief minister at that time.However, Samal claimed that when he cautioned Patnaik about Kandhamal's volatile situation before riot, the then chief secretary, director general of police and home secretary were present at the CM's chamber.Though Samal had earlier alleged that conversion was one of the causes behind thr riot, he failed to give material evidence in support of his claim.
Reprinted with permission from http://persecution.in
If you have an account
If you are a new user