Ajit Jogi's tribal status confirmed again

By Our Staff Correspondent

RAIPUR, NOV. 25. The ratification by Rev. Sunil Cak, Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese, that the Chhatisgarh Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, is a member of the Kanwar Scheduled Tribe is being viewed as his trump card released rather prematurely.

Mr. Jogi's supporters believe if the statement of Rev. Cak had been released at an appropriate forum and time, the impact would have been much better though his detractors say that church has no authority to decide upon an individual's social status. Since the matter is in the court, it could have been presented there or, may be, placed before the Chhatisgarh Assembly where the matter has been raised repeatedly by the Opposition, they point out.

Rev. Sunil Cak on Friday had issued a statement in Jabalpur on behalf of the Diocese of Jabalpur, Church of North India, saying that documents available with the church proved that Mr. Jogi was a member of the Kanwar Scheduled Tribe.

According to entry no 429 of the old church register entitled ``Membership Record from July 15, 1887 to August 13, 1918', Mr. Jogi's grandfather, Dulare Kumar Jogi, has been recorded as a member of Kanwar Scheduled Tribe. The entry had been made at the time when he was baptized and converted to Christianity. He had further said that the church records could be produced before the competent authority whenever required.

At the same time, Satgarh Kanwar Mahasabha and Pachhgarh Chandravanshi Kanwar Samaj, have come out openly in support of Mr. Jogi and described him as a `true tribal of Kanwar community.'

In two different statements released here, the organisations have confirmed Mr. Jogi's tribal status and even demanded the resignation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), MLA, Mr. Nanki Ram Kanwar, who had challenged the Chief Minister's tribal status in the House and said he would resign if the Kanwar community accepted him.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of Firms and Societies on Friday approved the recognition of the Chhatisgarh Adivasi Vikas Parishad, headed by Shyam Lal Marawi. The Adivasi Parishad had split on November 4 during a tribal meet here to discuss the tribal status of the Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi.

The registration comes as another major blow to Mr. K. R. Shah, who was unceremoniously removed as the president of the Parishad during the meet.

Violence at the tribal meet at the Medical College Auditorium has snowballed into a major controversy and the matter was taken up in the State Assembly where it was discussed for about five hours during an adjournment motion moved by the Bharatiya Janata Party. While the Opposition accused the Congress of creating trouble at the meeting, the Government denied any violence.

Fearing for his life, Mr. K. R. Shah had not attended the meet and took shelter in the house of the rebel Industry Minister, Mr. Mahendra Karma. It was Mr. Shah who had sent a written complaint to the police about unruly scenes on the premises. No action has been taken on the complaint.

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