RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, April 4: Protests against Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren today reached Santhal Pargana villages.
This was reflected after villagers in dozens of villages of Dumka burnt effigy of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and legislators of the UPA, except that of Lobin Hembrom.
These villagers had been prevented from participating in the Jan Akrosh Rally which rebel JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom had organised on Sunday to press for the demand of defining locals on the basis of 1932 land survey record,
The villages, where effigies were burnt, included Gardi, Bhikha, Dhibanchipa, Makro, Dundia, Leto and Vijaypur besides others. The villagers were organised under the aegis of Phulo Jhano Murmu 1932 Khatiyan Sangathan and Marang Buru Jaher Akhra.
Villagers termed Chief Minister Hemant Soren an autocrat, saying his promise to give 5 lakh jobs and other facilities to people remained limited to his party manifesto as it has yet to be fulfilled.
Agitating villagers raised ten demands during their agitation. The demands included formulation of 1932 Khatian-based local policy after cancellation of existing local policy, first official language status to Santhali and deletion of Magahi, Bhojpuri, Angika besides others from the list of regional languages.
Other demands included implementation of PESA, effective implementation of SPT and CNT Acts, starting regular appointments in place of contractual appointments, withdrawal of FIR registered under Section 188 and DM Act against students and agitators organised under the Student Coordination Committee of Sido Kanhu Murmu University and 100 units free electricity
Villagers decided to ensure a social boycott of the leaders coming as an obstruction in the way of formulation of local policy on the basis of the 1932 land survey record.
The situation arose after senior JMM leader Lobin Hembrom turned rebel following the statement of chief minister Hemant Soren sharing hurdles in formulating locals policy on the basis of 1932 Khatiyan during his speech in the Assembly.
