Congress Pays Tribute to Birsa Munda on His 150th Birth Anniversary and Jharkhand Foundation Day

Ranchi: The Pradesh Congress Committee organised a tribute programme today to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Dharti Aba Birsa Munda and the 25th anniversary of the formation of Jharkhand. The day began with senior party leaders offering floral tributes at Birsa Munda’s memorial in Kokar, where in-charge K. Raju and state president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh observed a moment of silence in his honour.

The delegation later visited Rampur Bazar in Nagpur, where they garlanded a statue of Birsa Munda in the presence of a large number of local residents. Addressing the gathering, in-charge K. Raju said that the creation of Jharkhand was rooted in the need to safeguard tribal constitutional rights, particularly their claim over jal, jangal and jameen. He emphasised that Congress and its allies have protected tribal identity and rights through the CNT–SPT Acts, PESA, and Forest Rights laws, and added that Birsa Munda’s struggle remains the guiding force of Jharkhand.

Raju stated that Jharkhand’s journey over the past 25 years shows that true development is possible only with equal tribal participation in decision-making. He reiterated that the first right over land and natural resources belongs to the original inhabitants and assured that Congress will continue to uphold this principle. Highlighting women’s empowerment, he said Adivasi women have always led society and that Congress is committed to supporting them through education, healthcare, security, and economic opportunities.

State president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh said that Birsa Munda’s ideology forms the moral foundation of the organisation and that Jharkhand’s dignity can be protected only by turning his values into action. He pledged that the Congress state unit will remain the voice of every tribal family and continue defending their rights.

Co-in-charge Dr. Bela Prasad said that Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is a reminder of a legacy of justice and struggle that inspired the entire nation. He called for collective commitment towards building an equitable, sensitive, and rights-based Jharkhand.

The event saw the participation of legislature party leader Pradeep Yadav, deputy leader Rajesh Kachhap, Rajesh Thakur, Subodh Kant Sahay, Dr. Prakash, Ravindra Singh, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Rakesh Sinha, Satish Paul Munzni, Amul Neeraj Khalkho, Gajendra Singh, Kedar Paswan, Shantanu Mishra, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdev, Dr. Rakesh, Kiran Mahato, Kumar Raja, Dr. Tauseef, district president Somnath Munda, Shahbaz Ahmad, Madhav Kashyap, Vijay Toppo, Kalyan Linda, Laxman Lakra, Chamu Beck, Anju Lakra, Rani Kujur, Maryam Lakra, Asha Lakra and several other leaders, workers, and residents.