RANCHI: In a last-ditch effort to woo adivasi voters, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren Saturday night said he would institute the state’s highest award after
tribal icons
Bhagwan Birsa Munda and
Sido-Kanhu
if his alliance wins the assembly elections.
Ahead of the second phase of polling on November 20, Soren’s announcement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Union government unveiled a commemorative coin of Rs 150 denomination and a stamp on Birsa Munda and named Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan bus stand intersection in the tribal icon’s name. Soren had said renaming the intersection was an ‘insult’ to Birsa Munda.
“The name of Jharkhand’s highest award will be ‘Lord Birsa Munda-Lord Sido-Kanhu Award’. This will be the first decision of the first cabinet of your ‘Abua government’. May the brave martyrs of Jharkhand remain immortal! Hail Jharkhand!” the Jharkhand CM posted on X on Saturday night.
BJP said criticised Soren’s announcement, saying if Soren intended to institute the award, he should have done it in the last five years of office.
“He is making false promises as he knows that his govt is not going to return to power. But he need not worry. We will restore the rights and pride of tribals, moolvasis and martyrs, among others, of the state when we form the govt after the results are declared on November 23,” BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said.
