Ranchi, May 30: Over 2,500 people from different districts of Jharkhand reached Ranchi and reminded the Hemant Soren government to “do what you said” during a dharna at Raj Bhavan on Friday.
The agitation organized by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, an outfit espousing the cause of tribal rights, claimed that the protest was an effort to remind the current JMM-Congress-RJD coalition government of pending announcements and election promises.
Woman right activist Elina Horo said that even in the 2024 assembly elections, the coalition parties had made many promises related to water, forest, land, identity and self-governance.
In September 2024 also, the Mahasabha had staged a dharna on these issues and also met Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
“Today again people are forced to protest on the streets on the same issues,” she said.
Another rights activist Aloka Kujur added that in the elections, the tribal-indigenous people had chosen the coalition government against the fascist, communal and anti-Jharkhand BJP with the expectation that action would be taken on public issues. But no action has been taken so far. Rather, in many cases the government has taken decisions contrary to the interests of Jharkhand.
“This is a betrayal of the tribal-indigenous people,” felt Kujur.
Demka Soy said that the Raghuvar government had put 22 lakh acres of non-cultivated and community land in the state into the land bank and opened the door for forced acquisition by amending the Land Acquisition Act in 2017.
“But despite repeated promises, the coalition government has not yet repealed it,” said Soy.
Khunti based activist Basing Hessa said that the Hemant Soren government’s indifference towards implementing PESA clearly shows that the government does not want to establish ‘Abua Raj’ for the tribals and natives.
Reyans Samad, associated with the Icha-Kharkai Dam Virodhi Sangh of West Singhbhum, said that the JMM says in every election that the Icha-Kharkai dam will not be built, but in the recent Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), a decision was taken to build it. Due to this, hundreds of tribal families will be displaced.
Many people who came from Latehar-Palamu gave facts about not getting private and community lease under the Forest Rights Act, which exposed the hollowness of the government’s ‘Abua Bir Dishum’ campaign.
Many speakers said that the Hemant government claims to be the “Abua government”, but is working against the interests of Jharkhandis. Somay Mardi said that in 2016, the Raghuvar government had made an anti-Jharkhand local policy. Even in six years, the coalition government has not canceled it and made a suitable local and planning policy to protect the interests of the tribals and natives.
