Disciple, guru lock horns

Speaking to The Indian Express, Munda also attacked JMM partner Congress: ‘‘By raising issues like lack of development, Sonia Gandhi is maligning her own family’s name… Apne poorvajon ko gaali de rahi hain… They never did anything for this area all these years.’’

‘‘What’s my anti-incumbency? I accepted the challenge, experienced Jharkhand’s birth pangs. Look at Bihar, compare it with what we have done here. Bihar has so many Central ministers. What did Jharkhand get? Both (Coal minister) Shibu Soren and (Food Processing’s) Subodh Kant Sahay should quit the UPA… Koyla bechne aur phal khaane ke siwa kya kiya hai (what have they done apart from selling coal and eating fruits)?’’

He admitted that the spread of Naxalism, especially in the poll-bound areas, was a cause for concern. ‘‘Don’t blame me for it. Nine other states too have the same problem…In Jharkhand’s case, it’s the result of wrong government policies in the last 50 years.’’

Poll issues apart, Munda stares at a problem of his and the party’s making: The sidelining of Babulal Marandi, the state’s first chief minister.

‘‘All this is lobby talk,’’ maintains Munda.‘‘When I was asked by the BJP to take charge, I believe it also had Babulalji’s endorsement. Yes, we may have had our moments of differences. But no one can question Babulalji’s commitment to the organisation.’’

‘‘When it came to his (Babulal’s) stepping down, I even told him: ‘Don’t do it, let’s go for fresh elections.’ But he said Rajdharam ka paalan bade bhai ko hi karna padta hai (the elder brother has to uphold the rule of law). He told me to take charge. You don’t know it, we are in daily touch over the phone.’’

He dismisses all talk of BJP overtures to JMM. ‘‘Just because someone said Advaniji and Shibu Soren greeted each other at the airport, it doesn’t mean that something is cooking. I can’t speak for the JMM, but I know we are not going to change our stand. We will have nothing to do with JMM.’’

But on his own relations with Soren, he says that’s personal. ‘‘We can all maintain different relations with different people, can’t we? I don’t think that should be any of your concern.’’ But the chela-guru fight, starting tomorrow, is certainly all of Jharkhand’s concern.