BJP MP not a tribal: Madhya Pradesh govt scraps her ST certificate

The two-time member of Parliament’s certificate stated that she was from the Gond tribe, but the state government said it wasn’t in accordance with her father’s constituency.

The Madhya Pradesh government has scrapped the scheduled tribe certificate of BJP national secretary and sitting MP Jyoti Dhurve, triggering calls for her resignation from the reserved constituency.

BJP national general secretary and sitting MP Jyoti Dhurve(Elections.in)

A high-level scrutiny committee set up under the directions of the high court found that the certificate – which stated that the 50-year-old was from the Gond tribe – was not in accordance with her father’s lineage.

“In the light of the evidence the high level scrutiny committee has taken its decision on April 1, 2017 unanimously…….. to cancel the caste certificate of Gond scheduled tribe of Jyoti Dhruve and confiscate it,” read the order, released late on Wednesday. Dhurve couldn’t be reached for comment.

State Congress chief spokesperson KK Mishra demanded the election commission immediately cancel Dhurve’s status as member of Parliament. Mishra said action should be taken against Dhurve for submitting false documents from the reserved Betul constituency.

“This case has been going on for the last nine years due to political pressure. The tribal welfare department should be asked why it took them so long to bring the facts to light”, he said.

BJP state chief spokesperson Deepak Vijawargiya said the case was sub-judice and he would not like to make any comment.

The committee was set up last year at the directions of the Madhya Pradesh high court. Late Ojha Ram Ivane of Congress, who lost to Dhurve in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections in Betul parliamentary constituency, had filed a complaint against her. He had alleged that Dhurve didn’t belong to the Gond scheduled tribe. Later in 2014, another complaint was filed by Shankar Pendram.

Dhurve had contested Lok Sabha elections from Betul seat for the first time in 2009 with the ST certificate. The seat was reserved for the scheduled tribe candidates.