Jharkhand People's Party (JPP) President, Surya Singh Besra today demanded formulation of a residential policy rather than domicile policy as demanded by some political parties.
Rejecting Jharkhand Government's draft domicile policy outright, Besra said Jharkhand needed a residential policy under article 16(3) of the constitution and not needed a domicile policy as per the provision of Article 5 of the constitution.
Addressing a press conference here, Besra said a five-member residential policy assessment committee have drafted a residential policy, which would be handed over to Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed and Chief Minister Hemant Soren on 20th July for consideration.
Besra alleged that while some people were unaware about the domicile and residential policy, some were misled about it whereas the state government was deliberately misguiding people to remain clinging to power.
Besra regretted that Jharkhand had nine governments since the creation of separate state 14 years ago but none of them were serious about formulating a residential policy for the benefit of the locals owing to differences of opinion between national and regional political parties or differences within the ruling coalition partners.
In fact, neither the successive governments any clear cut approach over the issue nor they had the intention to frame a residential policy, Besra alleged.
He said former Chief Minister Babular Marandi-led government had made an unsuccessful attempt to constitute a domicile policy but had to shelve it after violence was witnessed in 2003.
To a query about the cut off year to decide a local resident as per the proposed draft residential policy of the committee, Besra said anyone having land record of last land survey would be considered as local resident.
JPP leader said Jharkhand should not follow the residential policy of any other state but should have a model of its own which should be based on its social and cultural identity, language and tradition.
