JMM's Manoj Pandey slams BJP tribal outreach, defends Jharkhand on Nisha Bhagat case
Synopsis
JMM's Manoj Pandey has gone on the offensive — questioning the BJP's symbolic padyatra for tribal icon Birsa Munda, defending the Jharkhand government's CBI referral in the Nisha Bhagat case, and invoking Manipur to argue that Adivasis remain peripheral to the Centre's priorities. The remarks signal an intensifying political battle over tribal identity ahead of Jharkhand's political calendar.
Key Takeaways
JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey on 12 November 2026 criticised the BJP's 73 km Janjatiya Gaurav Divas Padyatra from Ulihatu, Khunti to Kokar, Ranchi as symbolic and ineffective.
Pandey invoked Birsa Munda and Shibu Soren , arguing tribal pride predates BJP politics and cited Manipur as proof of BJP's failure on Adivasi welfare.
He defended the Jharkhand government's handling of the Nisha Bhagat death case, noting the Chief Minister ordered a CBI investigation and the local SHO was suspended .
Pandey questioned NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar's visit to Jharkhand, asking why a similar response was not visible in BJP-ruled states like Uttarakhand in the Ankita Bhandari case.
He also raised questions about the latest CRPF attack in Jammu and Kashmir , comparing it to the Pahalgam , Pulwama , and Pathankot attacks and challenging the Centre's counter-terror record.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson Manoj Pandey on Thursday, 12 November 2026, sharply questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s outreach to tribal communities, challenging the credibility of the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas Padyatra and asserting that the lives of Adivasi people would improve only when their rights are genuinely protected and systemic discrimination ends.
Attack on BJP's Tribal Outreach
Pandey challenged the purpose of the 73 km padayatra organised by the BJP from Ulihatu in Khunti to Kokar in Ranchi to mark the 151st birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda. 'How will a Padyatra improve the lives of the Tribes? Their lives will improve when their rights are not exploited, when the mindset around tribals changes. The Janjatis fought the British when the BJP or the RSS were not in the picture,' he said.
Pandey invoked the legacies of Birsa Munda and Shibu Soren, arguing that tribal pride predated BJP politics by generations. 'Figures like Birsa Munda and Shibu Soren fought for Independence. The pride of the Janjatis has been intact for ages, and it is going to remain so. The BJP cannot bring real change; Manipur is an example of that. Adivasis are not the real priority at the Centre,' he said.
JMM Defends Handling of Nisha Bhagat Case
Reacting to National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar's criticism of the Jharkhand administration following her visit to the state over the death of tribal activist Nisha Bhagat, Pandey defended the state government's response as swift and decisive.
'In the Nisha Bhagat case, the Chief Minister ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to head the investigation. Have you seen such quick action being taken in any other state? The SHO has been suspended. In the BJP-ruled states, the women's organisations are closed. They have no record,' he said.
Pandey pointedly questioned the NCW's selective attention, asking whether the commission had visited the family of Ankita Bhandari — a reference to the high-profile case in Uttarakhand, a BJP-governed state. He also questioned the timing of Rahatkar's visit: 'These organisations need to cut some slack for the state government. Were you waiting for something wrong to happen that you took such a quick visit to the state?'
JMM Questions Centre on Security Failures
Pandey also turned his attention to the latest attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel during a patrol in Jammu and Kashmir, drawing a sharp comparison with earlier terror incidents. 'The terrorists came on foot and returned on foot, as if they were on a morning walk, similar to Pahalgam, and shot at our security forces,' he said, calling for a transparent and thorough investigation.
He referenced the Pahalgam, Pulwama, and Pathankot attacks, saying persistent questions surround the Centre's capacity to prevent such incidents. 'Questions were raised during Pahalgam, Pulwama, and Pathankot. Because the Union government can't stop the terrorists,' Pandey said.
What This Signals Politically
Pandey's remarks come amid a charged political atmosphere in Jharkhand, where tribal rights, women's safety, and security have become flashpoints between the ruling JMM-led alliance and the BJP opposition. This is the latest in a series of exchanges between the two parties over the Nisha Bhagat case. How the state government's CBI-led probe progresses will be closely watched as a measure of its stated commitment to accountability.
Point of View
JMM attempts to neutralise the NCW's criticism by exposing what it argues is selective scrutiny of non-BJP governments. The Birsa Munda invocation is equally strategic: tribal legacy is contested political capital in Jharkhand, and the BJP's padayatra is as much about electoral symbolism as commemoration. What is missing from this exchange is substantive accountability — both sides are trading political points while the fundamental questions around Nisha Bhagat's death and Adivasi rights remain unresolved. The CBI referral is a significant move, but its credibility will depend entirely on outcomes, not announcements.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did JMM's Manoj Pandey say about the BJP's Janjatiya Gaurav Divas Padyatra?
Pandey questioned whether a padayatra could meaningfully improve the lives of tribal communities, arguing their situation would change only when their rights are protected and systemic discrimination ends. He said the Janjatis fought the British long before the BJP or RSS existed, and cited Manipur as evidence that the BJP cannot deliver real change for Adivasis.
What is the Nisha Bhagat case and how has the Jharkhand government responded?
Nisha Bhagat was a tribal activist whose death prompted National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar to visit Jharkhand and criticise the state administration. The Jharkhand Chief Minister ordered a CBI investigation into the case, and the local SHO was suspended — steps Pandey cited as evidence of swift government action.
Why did Pandey criticise the NCW's visit to Jharkhand?
Pandey questioned the timing and selectivity of the NCW's response, asking whether the commission had also visited the family of Ankita Bhandari — a victim in BJP-governed Uttarakhand. He argued that women's organisations in BJP-ruled states are largely inactive and that the NCW appeared to rush to blame the Jharkhand government rather than allowing due process.
What did Pandey say about the CRPF attack in Jammu and Kashmir?
Pandey questioned how the attackers managed to approach and withdraw on foot without being intercepted, comparing it to the Pahalgam incident. He called for a transparent probe and argued that the Centre had repeatedly failed to prevent terror attacks, citing Pahalgam, Pulwama, and Pathankot as prior examples.
What is the BJP's Janjatiya Gaurav Divas Padyatra?
The BJP organised a 73 km padayatra from Ulihatu in Khunti to Kokar in Ranchi to mark the 151st birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda. The event is part of the party's broader outreach to tribal communities, which JMM has dismissed as symbolic rather than substantive.
