ROURKELA: Refuting the allegations of political opponents, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram said he never said Bhuiyans are not tribal.
The Lok Sabha member of BJP from Sundargarh said, “My opposition is towards Khandayat Bhuiyan, who are non-tribals, but are plundering the rights of the genuine tribal Bhuiyans”.
Talking to mediapersons on Sunday, Jual said Bhuiyans are indeed original tribal people who are entitled to reservation, but Khandayat Bhuiyans, faking as tribals, are illegally availing the benefits.
Jual pointed out that erstwhile landlords of Hemgir, Sargipali and Kuanrmunda estates in Sundargarh district Sunil Singh Deo and Sanjeev Pratap Singh Deo, both of BJD, and Yogesh Singh, Congress MLA from Sundargarh Assembly Constituency, are Khandayat Bhuiyans and have availed fake caste certificates as tribal Bhuiyans.
Jual said through personal investigation, he found out that these leaders with false caste certificates have fought or won elections. The Union Minister has written to National Commission of Schedule Tribe (NCST) seeking a detailed probe and investigation into the case is pending.
Jual claimed these people and their parties are carrying out a malicious campaign against him by trying to mislead the original Bhuiyan community, but asserted they would not succeed.