RANCHI, Oct 18: In a bid to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party's support for a separate `Vananchal' state and bifurcation of Bihar, the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has decided to revive the `Greater Jharkhand State' movement, by allegedly whipping up tribal sentiments.Announcing an `Adivasi Mahasammelan' here to be held early next month the RJD yesterday declared to launch a vigorous movement in the area for realisation of a Greater Jharkhand carved out of the 27 district's of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal.Speaking to newsmen, RJD tribal leaders Bandhu Tirkey and David Bhanjar said that the party and its supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav were committed to the welfare of tribals and hence would not allow them to be exploited anymore by the ``communal and opportunist'' forces. Decrying the Centre's move to create Vananchal, comprising 18 districts of South Bihar, the two leaders said that had the BJP government been concerned about the tribals, it would have sought the creation of a GreaterJharkhand state. And not initiated steps for bifurcation of Bihar alone.``The BJP move is to settle political scores with RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav,'' they alleged. The two leaders warned the people against the ``communal'' BJP and the RSS, out to ``colonise'' this mineral and forest enriched region. The RJD has decided to organise an `Adivasi Mahasammelan' here in the first week of November.They charged the BJP with trying to vitiate social harmony in the area on communal lines and defiling the age-old tribal culture by addressing the people of Jharkhand as Vanvasi. ``We are Adivasis and not Vanavasi,'' said Bandhu Trikey, adding that an attempt was also being made by the communal forces to create confrontation between the Christians and the Non-Christian Adivasis.He said even after creation of Vananchal the tribals were not going to get their share either in policy making or in it's implementation.Greater Jharkhand state demanded by the ruling RJD comprised the eighteen districts of Bihar,three districts of West Bangal (Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia), four districts of Orissa (Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Sundergarh) and two districts of Madhya Pradesh (Sargujva and Raigarh).Citing the history of the region , he said even during the British rule the areas comprising these tribal districts of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and West Bental were governed as a unit called South West Frontier Agency.
