Ranchi, August 22: The Monsoon Session of Jharkhand Assembly commenced on Friday with a notable atmosphere of consensus among the lawmakers as representatives across party lines demanded country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna for Shibu Soren.
Ruling party’s Pradeep Yadav strongly urged the House to pass a resolution recommending the award to the Centre. “No one is more deserving of the Bharat Ratna than Shibu Soren, who devoted his entire life to Jharkhand, tribal identity, and social justice,” Yadav said, adding that his contributions merit national recognition.
The demand drew wide support as JDU legislator Saryu Rai endorsed the proposal, stressing that Soren’s role in shaping Jharkhand’s identity must be honored nationally. Meanwhile, Independent MLA Arup Chatterjee went further, urging the Chief Minister to install Soren’s statue in the Assembly premises, develop his ancestral village Nemra—where his memorial stands—into a tourist hub, and press the Centre for the Bharat Ratna.
In addition to this, AJSU legislator Nirmal Mahato also expressed his support for the resolution, highlighting its importance. Moreover, Dumri MLA Jayram Mahato proposed that statues of prominent leaders like Shibu Soren and Vinod Bihari Mahato be erected atop Parasnath Hills, which is recognized as the highest peak in the state.
Notably, JMM co-founder Shibu Soren, affectionately known as Dishom Guru, died on August 4 at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications.
Shibu Soren played a crucial role in the movement for a separate Jharkhand state and served multiple terms as Chief Minister and Union Minister. His political journey, marked by grassroots activism and steadfast advocacy for tribal rights, earned him widespread respect across the country.
