Protests are sweeping areas of Jharkhand over the state's domicile policy, which includes the inclusion of languages Bhojpuri and Magahi in a government exam for district-level positions.
These protests have primarily occurred in the districts of Bokaro and Dhanbad, where protestors claim that Bhojpuri and Magahi are spoken by a small percentage of the population, but they are now expanding to Giridih and Ranchi as well.
The Jharkhandi Bhasha Sangharsha Samiti – an apolitical organisation of Moolvasis and Adivasis — has addressed more than 50 assemblies on the matter, attracting big crowds over the previous several days. Tirth Nath Akash, one of the group's members, said the rallies were intended to put pressure on the state administration over the languages' inclusion in the two districts — as well as the state's domicile policy. In contrast to the present date of 1985, the protesters have demanded a cut-off date of 1932 that takes into account the verification of land records.
Protests erupted after the state administration announced on December 23 that Magahi and Bhojpuri will be recognised as regional languages in the two districts for the purpose of selecting matric and intermediate pass candidates through examinations. The notice only applies to district-level appointments and not to the state-wide selection process. As of currently, no vacancies have been advertised in response to the announcement. So far, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Congress have remained silent on the subject. The BJP has remained silent on the issue.
Meanwhile, the state's domicile policy has always been a difficult issue.
Following the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, the first Chief Minister, Babulal Marandi, believed it was vital to identify a 'Jharkhandi,' as it would aid in the distribution of benefits, such as government jobs, to local residents. Marandi, on the other hand, resigned in 2003 due to this issue. The current JMM administration has constituted a cabinet sub-committee to re-define who is considered a domiciled resident. In 2016, the government of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das issued a "relaxed domicile policy" that allowed employment over the previous 30 years as a category, thereby putting the cut-off year at 1985.
Akash said they have been working in this domain for the last six-seven years. “We had protested against Raghubar Das’ domicile policy and also when he attempted to tweak Santhal Pargana and Chotanagpur Tenancy Acts. There is pent-up anger among the people and it was triggered upon the inclusion of certain language as this would lead to their exclusion in government jobs.” Asked how the large crowds come in the rallies, he said: “We don’t even call them. They call us.”
Akash said: “Language is a very important issue. For example, in Bokaro, Dhanbad there is a minuscule population of people speaking Bhojpuri and Magahi, then what sense does it make to include the language in these districts. We are not opposing the inclusion of the same in Latehar, Garhwa and Palamu areas because we know there is a substantial population speaking these languages.”
The opposition side said that the protests were sparked by State Education Minister Jagarnath Mahato's recent statement supporting the eradication of these languages from Dhanbad and Bokaro. The minister, who is from the Giridih district's Dumri constituency, said he had even petitioned the government to remove these languages from the list of regional languages. On Twitter, he posted: “Jharkhand ki Sarkar Jharkhandion ke banaya hai aur yahan unki baat suni jayegi (The people of Jharkhand have voted this government to power. Here their voices will be heard).”
The Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili Angika Manch, which is backed by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Jharkhand breakaway organisation RJD Loktantrik, claims that many people speaking Bhojpuri and Magahi languages have made an "immense contribution" to the state of Jharkhand. President Kailash Yadav said: “We request the education minister to see Biharis with respect and do not polarise the views of the public.”