Kerala tribal leader CK Janu quits NDA

Kochi | Sunday | 14th October, 2018

Summary:

We feel that there is no point in continuing in the front. All our key demands, including declaring tribal-dominated areas in the state as scheduled areas under Article 224 of the Constitution and giving us representation in boards and corporations, have been disregarded. KOZHIKODE: Janadhipathya Rashtriya Sabha (JRS), led by tribal leader C K Janu, has left National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alleging neglect in the front and failure by the BJP leadership to honour the promises given to the party.The decision to end the two-and-a-half-years old alliance was taken at the state committee meeting of the JRS here on Sunday.“We have decided to temporarily quit the NDA in protest against the neglect meted out to us. Janu on Sunday reiterated her stand that the Supreme Court order should be implemented and that taking to the streets to protest against the SC order was not proper.“If they are demanding to protect the rituals and customs of Sabarimala temple, then what about the rights of the Mala Arayan tribal community who used to conduct the ‘thaen abhishekam’ (offering honey to the deity) ritual in the past,” Janu questioned. Even the meetings of the NDA have not taken place in the state for quite some time now,” Janu, who is the chairperson of JRS, said.Janu said that though she had held at least four meetings with BJP national leadership and had given the demands in writing, nothing happened so far.Janu, who had been the face of several tribal agitations in the state including the Muthanga land agitation and the Nilpu Samaram (standing protest), has, however, kept all her future political options open.“We are ready to hold political dialogue with the UDF or the LDF, or for that matter even the NDA if they come forward for talks with us again..