Champai Soren, famously known as the ‘Kolhan Tiger’ and a trusted aide to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s patriarch Shibu Soren, had long opposed Bharatiya Janata Party. However, after being ousted as Chief Minister by Hemant Soren following his release from prison, Champai decided to abandon the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol and join forces with the ‘lotus.’ During his election campaign in Rajnagar, Jamshedpur, Champai Soren shared his concerns with Organiser’s Senior Assistant Editor Nishant Kumar Azad on various issues, including threats to tribal identity in Santhal Pargana, highlighting growing infiltration from Bangladesh as a significant challenge. Excepts:
After building Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) from a scratch and remaining its pillar for 30 years, you chose to side with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What led to this change?
Not just 30 years, I have been a committed and hard-working political activist for 45 years. I have been associated with Jharkhand Movement since my student days. I worked with labour movement and fought for labour rights endlessly. We also resisted the forceful displacement of Vanvasis and never rested. Under the able leadership of Guruji, we built JMM from scratch. Ideally, I should have succeeded Guruji (Shibu Soren) as the leader of the movement and then the resultant victory that we got. But after his demise, I saw things getting bad and going out of hand in the party. JMM has deviated from the ideals and teachings of Guruji, and I could not have continued in the party for the same reason. In my press conference on August 18, I explained my position to the people of Jharkhand. They have supported my righteous cause. Now I am a BJP karyakarta and that’s my only identity.
“Our tribals are getting displaced. Bangladeshi infiltrators are being settled there to wreak havoc on the tribal society. Our Maas and Behans are not safe. Did we create Jharkhand for this day? Right from the 1860s onwards, our ancestors fought against the British Imperialism on the issue of land and forest”
You mentioned Shibu Soren (aka Guruji) with lots of reverence. When you left the party, didn’t Hemant Soren asked you not to leave or reached out in any way?
Nobody asked me to stay back. I struggled with Guruji for 45 years as a political activist. How would someone who is 45-year’s old give me any suggestion or command? I was the senior most member of JMM. When I left the party, I thought of founding a new party first. But I am also getting old and frail. Then, BJP approached me and welcomed me in their sangathan. Why would I decline it when I see that BJP could be an alternative; a way to mukti for my Adivasi and Moolnivasi bhai and behans. Look what is happening in Santhal Pargana today. It is on fire. Our tribals are getting displaced. Bangladeshi infiltrators are being settled there to wreak havoc on the tribal society. Our Maas and Behans are not safe. Did we create Jharkhand for this day? Right from 1860s, onwards our ancestors fought against the British Imperialism on the issue of land and forest. In independent India, the Constitution provided safeguards to our tribal land. But look what is happening today? Our land is being snatched away and no less by foreign infiltrators. Every political party is aware of this dark reality, but they don’t talk about it except for BJP. My prime reason for being with BJP today is the same. BJP is vocal about the issue and fighting for the land of poor tribals. I went to my brothers and sisters and asked them to support the party, and they promised to do it.
The issue of Bangladeshi infiltration and land grabbing has been highlighted by both PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other prominent leaders of the party. The BJP manifesto also mentioned it. However, CM Hemant Soren and the local administration are on a denial mode. How do you view this development?
Hemant Soren and his administration are lying. I ask them to come with me to more than dozens of villages that have been infiltrated by Bangladeshis. Our tribal people have been compelled to go homeless. These foreign troublemakers have even entered in Bhognadih, the village of Sidhu-Kanu. Everybody is aware of it.
BJP has given the call of “Roti, Maati, Beti!” What are your thoughts on this?
This is not a slogan. “Roti, Maati, Beti!” is our identity. Our Asmita! We fought the British Imperialism from
1850s onwards on these three issues only. We have resisted everybody who have looked at our women with contempt. We have fought every force that has tried to capture our land. And roti, that’s basic, that’s life. It is unfortunate that the issues we fought for decades have come back to haunt us. An inefficient government is responsible for it. The people of Jharkhand will teach a good lesson to JMM this time.
You keep referring to BJP’s growing presence amid Adivasis. But on the 28 ST seats, BJP has just won 2 in the last assembly electiond. What would change this time?
This time the wave is with BJP, not only on the ST seats or certain areas but across the state. The people of Jharkhand are fed up with years of misrule and bad governance of JMM and Hemant Soren.
You also raised the issue of illegal mining when you were Chief Minister. Do you have any concrete planning and vision to tackle this menace if BJP comes to power in the state?
Illegal mining is the consequence of a deep-seated problem of underdevelopment of Adivasis. No previous government ever cared about our education. Right from the days of Jharkhand Movement we kept demanding that Adivasis should be first educated in their own language. Where are those schools that could’ve imparted education in Santali, Ho, Kharia, Khortha, Nagpuria and others? We kept demanding this from Congress, RJD, and others, but they never heard. Should I recall how many Adivasi have been killed by different Congress regimes? We are now seeing a change of heart with BJP at the helm. We have Eklavya Schools now, a Ministry of Tribal Affairs, an Adivasi President, and so much more. All because we have a sensitive and patriotic Prime Minister today. Once Adivasis get educated and understand their rights properly, issues like illegal mining and forceful displacement will go away gradually. As far as government is concerned, we will do our best.
Apart from the illegal mining, the other issue becoming prominent in Jharkhand is Love Jihad. Do you think this all is a part of a bigger nexus to grab the land of Adivasis?
The JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand is a harbinger of corruption and destruction. Corruption has peaked during this regime. They are allowing entry of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators who are indulging in love jihad and land jihad in Jharkhand. There are multiple cases where infiltrators are marrying Adivasi women to obtain certificates and buy land. Once they get land, they abandon the women and their children. It is an open secret now.
“Right from the days of Jharkhand Movement we kept demanding that Adivasis should be first educated in their own language. We kept demanding this from Congress, RJD, and others, but they never heard. Should I recall how many Adivasi have been killed by different Congress regimes?”
CM Hemant Soren and many of his close allies are in the eye of the storm. What is your take on the issue? How will BJP deal with corruption if you are voted to power?
If elected to power, we will do our best in the institutional framework to punish the guilty. I am vocal about the corruption issue from very long. I kept warning Hemant and others that they should stop supporting such practices but they never listened. Now, the people of Jharkhand will teach them a lesson.
BJP has always attacked others over nepotism. But this time in Jharkhand, the issue of family is at the centre. Even your son has got a ticket. What do you have to say about it?
BJP is the largest sangathan today. There is a proper channel and mechanism to decide anything. Our karyakartas are connected and related from New Delhi to booth level. The decision on tickets is collective and party leadership has taken it respecting the popular sentiment. BJP is not Congress. Our decision making starts from the grassroot.
How many seats are you expecting this time for BJP? Do you have a magical figure in mind?
I am a grassroot level activist who is witnessing a wave in favour of BJP across the state. The people of Jharkhand won’t go with those whom they elected last time. They want change. They are ready for change.
