Ramgarh, Aug. 4: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday unveiled a 14-foot statue of JMM founder and veteran tribal leader Dishom Guru Shibu Soren at Lukaiyatand in Gola block of Ramgarh district, marking the late leader’s first death anniversary and paying tribute to his contribution to the Jharkhand movement and the creation of the state.
The statue was installed at the Sona Sobaran Memorial School campus in Shibu Soren’s ancestral village. The programme was attended by ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, Jharkhand movement activists, public representatives, members of the Soren family and thousands of supporters.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister urged the younger generation to draw inspiration from Shibu Soren’s lifelong struggle against exploitation and his ideals of simplicity, sacrifice and social justice.
“The statue has been installed so that future generations never forget the struggles our ancestors faced against exploitation,” Soren said, adding that understanding history would help society build a better future and overcome emerging challenges.
He also stressed the need for unity and mutual respect in society. “Unity and mutual respect are essential. Unless people respect one another, conflicts will continue to persist,” he said.
Recalling his grandfather Sobaran Manjhi, a school teacher who was killed by anti-social elements, the Chief Minister said society must remain vigilant against forces that seek to create divisions and injustice.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to inclusive development, Soren said the objective was to ensure that welfare schemes, public services and constitutional rights reached the last person in society.
During the programme, the state government virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several development projects. Welfare assets, including tricycles, bicycles, tractors, solar pumps and other livelihood-support equipment, were distributed among beneficiaries.
Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore also paid tribute to the late leader, describing Shibu Soren as a visionary whose commitment to public welfare and social justice would continue to inspire future generations.
“Shibu Soren was a great leader whose ideals will continue to guide future generations,” Kishore said, adding that his lifelong contribution had laid the foundation for Jharkhand’s democratic development.
Speaking to reporters after the event, the Chief Minister also commented on the ongoing protests over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations. He said the government was taking the matter seriously and that the ongoing investigation would be allowed to reach its logical conclusion before further action.
“The findings of the investigation into the students’ protest will be made public, and justice will be ensured in accordance with constitutional provisions and established rules,” Soren said.
The remarks come amid continuing student protests in Ranchi over the alleged recruitment irregularities, with the state government maintaining that the investigation is progressing and that appropriate action will follow based on its findings.
