Chhattisgarh panel rejects former CM Ajit Jogi's tribal status claim

In November 2000, Jogi had contested the by-election from Marwahi (ST) assembly segment.

Updated on: Jul 2, 2017, 22:01:49 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A Chhattisgarh government-appointed committee has rejected former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s claim to tribal status, dealing a blow to the political heavyweight.

Former Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh Ajit Jogi (PTI File Photo)

Jogi will challenge the decision, which is yet to be made public, in court, his son, Amit Jogi, told HT on Sunday. “This is a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) conspiracy. This is a CM (Raman Singh) powered committee and it prepared the report as per his will,” Amit, whose political ambitions will also be affected by the final decision on their tribal status, added.

In January, Chhattisgarh high court directed the state government to examine Jogi’s tribal status claim through a high-powered committee.

The court’s order came on former BJP MP Nand Kumar Sai’s writ alleging that Jogi was claiming tribal status attained through “fake” documents.

Amit said, “There are many flaws in the committee’s report and we will raise them in court. The report is with us and we found that a vigilance team of the high-powered committee concluded after visiting our village that we are tribal, but their findings were overpowered.”

Sai, who was recently appointed chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, said, “Action should be taken against Jogi as per law and FIR should be registered.”

In November 2000, Jogi had contested the by-election from Marwahi (ST) assembly segment to fulfil the requirement of becoming a member of the newly formed state assembly within six months of assuming office as CM.

After Jogi won the election, BJP leader Sant Kumar Netam lodged a complaint and questioned his tribal status. At present, Amit is the MLA from Marwahi.

In January 2016, the Congress expelled Amit for six years over his alleged role in fixing a by-election that led to a BJP win. In June, his father resigned from the Congress. Before resigning, Jogi formed Chhattisgarh Janata Congress party.

The Congress has demanded that the committee’s decision, which was apparently made last week, on Jogi’s tribal status be made public. “We have filed an application regarding the report and once we get it, the party will decide its stand,” said Congress spokesperson RP Singh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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