Ruling, oppn leaders pay tribute to Nirmal Mahato on Martyr's Day

Jamshedpur: Both ruling and opposition leaders of Kolhan division paid tribute to Nirmal Mahato, one of the founders of JMM and leader of the Jharkhand movement, on his death anniversary observed as Martyrs' Day .

On Saturday, the leaders gathered at Chamaria guest house in Bistupur area, where Mahato was gunned down by unidentified assailants on August 8, 1987.

Mahato was 36 years' old when he was killed.

The gathering of both ruling and opposition leaders on the occasion was seen as a move to woo Mahatos (Kurmis), who have a 25%-39% vote share in Jharkhand.

Champai Soren, the seniormost JMM leader from Kolhan, and his supporters were the first ones to pay floral tributes at the guest house. After garlanding the bust of Mahato, Soren recalled the contribution of the late leader to the creation of a separate Jharkhand state. He said the dreams of the slain leader will be completed by the current Hemant Soren government.

Mahato's sister-in-law and JMM's Ichagarh MLA Sabita Mahato also offered tributes to the late leader.

State health minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta paid tributes to Mahato at his burial place in Uliyan. On the occasion, Gupta said, "The cry for a separate Jharkhand state by tribals was given from Jamshedpur by Nirmal da. It was through his efforts that the Jharkhand movement took shape."

Two-time BJP MP from Jamshedpur Vidyut Baran Mahato along with his followers also went to the guest house to pay tribute to Mahato. Vidyut, who was also earlier with JMM, mentioned how Mahato with his limited resources fought for the creation of Jharkhand.

Functionaries of Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Rai's Bharatiya Janata Morcha were also seen at the guest house to offer tributes to the leader.

Ajsu-P led by its district president Kanhiya Singh also took part in the programme.

On the occasion, a section of the Kurmis demanded that statues of Mahato, along with other leaders of the Jharkhand movement like Raghunath Mahato, Binod Bihari Mahato and Chanuk Mahato, should be installed on the premises of Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. Some also made demands to rename the Kolhan University after Mahato.

Notably, the political leaders, including MP, MLAs and their followers, were seen wearing masks on the occasion but did not abide by the social distancing protocols both at the guest house and at the burial ground of Mahato in Uliyan.