Jharkhand turns 21, Prez, PM extend wishes amid low-key celebrations

Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren and Governor Droupadi Murmu paid their respects to tribal revolutionary Birsa Munda in Ranchi on Sunday as the Jharkhand government observed a low-key Statehood Day owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Statehood Day, which is observed on the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda every year, lacked its usual pomp and splendour as the Jharkhand government withheld the customary grand celebrations at Morhabadi during the day and the cultural fest after sundown as a measure to prevent a spurt in Covid-19 cases.
President Ram Nath Kovind greeted Jharkhand’s people in a tweet in the morning. “Jharkhand is a land of abundant natural resources and rich culture, of which we all are proud of. I hope that with the blessings of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the state makes continuous progress in years to come,” Kovind tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a photograph of himself paying tributes to Birsa Munda’s statue in Ranchi’s Birsa Chowk in early 2019 and wrote on Twitter: “He was a messiah of the poor and exploited and fought for their rights. His contribution to the Independence movement and efforts to restore social equality will be remembered by the people of India always.”
Soren, who offered tributes to Birsa’s tomb in Kokar and at the statue in Birsa Chowk, said: “Jharkhand has produced many bravehearts such as Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Sidho-Kanho, Nilamber-Pitamber, who laid down their lives for India’s independence. Their sacrifices will be forever remembered.”
Soren later attended the commemoration parade of Jharkhand Police at JAP-1 ground in Doranda and handed medals to 80 policemen and women for their gallantry and exemplary service. He also honoured the families of six police personnel who died in the line of duty and praised the forces for their service during the lockdown.
Former chief minister Babulal Marandi and BJP’s state chief Deepak Prakash offered their tributes to Birsa’s photograph at the party’s state headquarters in Harmu in the afternoon.
Amid the low-key celebrations, activists of a separate statehood movement staged a four-hour dharna in Ranchi and district headquarters demanding perks and amendment of pension rules.
Birendra Kumar Mahto, the media-in-charge of Jharkhand Andolankari Sangharsh Morcha, said: “Around 11,000 Jharkhand movement activists staged dharna across the state to press for a 14-point charter of demands.” The demands include abolishing of jail term as the eligibility criteria for pension, travel perks, free housings for activists, among others. In an order dated June 1, 2018, the former government under Raghubar Das had provisioned Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 monthly pensions for statehood movement activists who served jail terms of six months and more.