New Delhi: Not even the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code can “infringe upon” the rights and customs of tribals, said Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Agriculture and Tribal Affairs, in an exclusive interview with ThePrint. On former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, however, Munda was clear that the opposition could not use his Santhal “tribal identity” to obfuscate corruption allegations.
“People elected Soren not to misuse power, but to use it for the welfare of people. Several cases of land misuse came out in the open. He should fight it legally. Why is he making it a tribal identity issue?” asked Munda, a three-time Jharkhand chief minister himself.
As he vies for re-election in Jharkhand’s Khunti Lok Sabha seat, BJP leader Munda’s dual ministership puts him squarely at the centre of several hot-button issues, from Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers to the potential impact of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on tribal communities.
In his conversation with ThePrint in the middle of hectic campaigning, he gave his take on these national discussions, as well as Soren’s arrest becoming a poll issue, the flow of Congress leaders into the BJP, and the debate over the party’s alleged plan to change the Constitution.
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Jharkhand battle
Earlier this week, Arjun Munda filed his nomination for the Khunti ST Lok Sabha seat, setting up a rematch against Congress’s Kali Charan Munda. Jharkhand is set to vote in four phases from 13 May to 1 June, with Khunti going to the polls in the first phase.
Since 1984, Khunti, home to a considerable Christian population, has predominantly been a BJP stronghold, apart from a 2004 upset. The last election saw a tight race between Munda and Kali Charan, with the BJP leader narrowly coming first at the finish line by less than 1,500 votes.
The arrest of Hemant Soren in January by the ED over an alleged land scam is central to the campaign of the opposition INDIA bloc in Jharkhand, comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The bloc portrays the incident as evidence of the BJP-led central government’s “anti-tribal” stance. On 21 April, the wives of both JMM’s Soren and another arrested CM, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, also participated in a protest rally in Ranchi.
Munda, however, dismissed allegations that the BJP was on a political witch hunt. “Whether corruption is taking place at the cost of tribals, we have to think about that first,” he said. “(Soren) should fight it legally. Why is he making it a tribal identity issue? It is not right to link the community. Now the time has come to evaluate whether the dreams of Jharkhand have been fulfilled after the formation of the state in the last few years.”
‘Opposition creating confusion on UCC, Constitution’
With the BJP’s manifesto reiterating its stand to draw up a Uniform Civil Code for protecting the rights of women, there are apprehensions in tribal communities that their customary practices may be compromised. While the UCC law passed by the Uttarakhand government earlier this year excluded the Scheduled Tribes from its ambit, these anxieties remain.
“The Opposition wants to create confusion on this issue,” Munda said. “There will be no change in the customary law of tribals when the union government brings a uniform civil code to the country.”
According to Munda, the UCC will only bring “awareness and education” among tribals.
“This is an issue of bringing awareness about marriage age. In earlier times, there was a practice of child marriage. Any tribal cannot disagree about his children’s marriage age,” he said. “How do you see UCC as important? We should give importance to our nationalism, our culture, and customs based on character, which are already protected. There is no need to change any customary system. Any kind of infringement on customary law is not on the agenda.”
On opposition charges that the BJP’s target of getting 400 seats is to change the Constitution of India, the Union minister again accused the INDIA block of “creating confusion” and dividing society.
“The opposition’s aim is to divide society,” he said. “The Constitution can’t be changed. The opposition is raising such issues because they don’t want to talk about the core issue of development carried out by the Modi government. The Congress is never sensitive about the issues of backward communities. Now they want to divide society to get votes. They only want to create confusion.”
MSP guarantee ‘not a long-term solution’
The BJP manifesto promises increases to the MSP from “time to time”, along with various other measures for farmers. However, it does not give a legal guarantee, unlike in the manifestos of opposition parties such as the Congress.
Asked why the Union government is reluctant on MSP guarantee when farmers have protested on the issue for the last five years, Agriculture Minister Munda said that reforms in the farming sector should be seen in a more “holistic” way.
“The farmers’ unions themselves don’t see it as a long-term solution,” Munda said. “They are also not sure about its long-term impact of ensuring the guarantee of MSP, but sometimes situations evolve that they can’t go back from their positions. Prime Minister Modi treats farmers as pillars of our country, and the government is working for the welfare of marginal farmers in a holistic way.”
Agricultural reform is multi-pronged, according to him.
“Cultivation has increased from earlier times. The government is purchasing more than earlier. We are part of the global economy, and our focus is on how to increase farmers’ income, how to protect our farmers from import,” he said.
Munda added that these considerations had to be balanced with ensuring the availability of grains and other produce in the market, while also promoting sustainable agricultural practices. “Besides grains, how our oilseeds market grows, how we enhance the life of farmers by using innovation and organic practices, we will have to look at the issue holistically,” he said.
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‘Ideology of nation first’
In a previous interview with ThePrint, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had likened the BJP to the river Ganga, describing how defecting Congress leaders merge into it like tributaries.
Asked if the BJP’s own cadres feel neglected because of this influx from the Congress, Munda said that there was enough room for everybody, provided they were on the same page.
“The country is very big and so are its aspirations, and anybody who is joining with the aim of nation-building is welcomed into the party,” he said. “There is space for everybody who wants to work with the ideology of nation-first.”
While the BJP’s campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha election emphasised nationalism, the focus has now shifted to nation-building, according to Munda.
“We have got such a Prime Minister who works 24/7, whose agenda is based on nation-building. His vision is based on Indian culture and the nation’s strength” he said.
Previous governments ignored India’s strengths, but this has changed under Modi, he added.
“Our Prime Minister thinks about how to build India’s present and future, using the energy and strength of India so that they can feel pride in India’s growth story. This is the big difference in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. (He) understands the problems of India, he is available 24/7, he is a sensitive person, and he has the ability to deliver.”
When asked about former agriculture ministers who have ascended to higher offices, such as HD Deve Gowda, Narasimha Rao, and Balram Jakhar, Munda demurred. “I don’t work for a post. I always work as a BJP worker and focus on the responsibilities of the post.”
(Edited by Asavari Singh)