Hundreds of tribals on Tuesday marched to Parasnath Hills, home to Jain pilgrimage centre Sammed Shikhar, in Giridih district of Jharkhand, reiterating their demand to announce the place as their pilgrimage centre as has been done for the Jain community.
Carrying traditional weapons, tribals, who had gathered from different parts of the state, raised slogans against the Centre as well as the state government, besides burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Hemant Soren and local JMM legislator Sudivya Kumar at the protest venue.
“The authorities need to announce the place as a pilgrimage centre for the tribals as well, as this has been their Marang Buru (sacred mountain) for ages. Even government documents prove it. Therefore, we demand that this place be declared our pilgrimage centre as it was in the 1911 and 1956 gazette notifications,” said Sikander Hembrom, convener, Parasnath Bachao Shangharsh Samiti.
The protesters marched over a kilometre from the Madhuban police station ground to the Jug Jater Than (place of worship) of the tribals in the foothills of Parasnath Hills, and conducted puja before returning to the protest venue. While the protest was aggressive yet peaceful, all shops en route the hill remained shut for most part of the day.
Hundreds of tribals on Tuesday marched to Parasnath Hills, home to Jain pilgrimage centre Sammed Shikhar, in Giridih district of Jharkhand, reiterating their demand to announce the place as their pilgrimage centre as has been done for the Jain community.
Carrying traditional weapons, tribals, who had gathered from different parts of the state, raised slogans against the Centre as well as the state government, besides burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Hemant Soren and local JMM legislator Sudivya Kumar at the protest venue.
“The authorities need to announce the place as a pilgrimage centre for the tribals as well, as this has been their Marang Buru (sacred mountain) for ages. Even government documents prove it. Therefore, we demand that this place be declared our pilgrimage centre as it was in the 1911 and 1956 gazette notifications,” said Sikander Hembrom, convener, Parasnath Bachao Shangharsh Samiti.
The protesters marched over a kilometre from the Madhuban police station ground to the Jug Jater Than (place of worship) of the tribals in the foothills of Parasnath Hills, and conducted puja before returning to the protest venue. While the protest was aggressive yet peaceful, all shops en route the hill remained shut for most part of the day.|#+|
Following a countrywide protests by the Jain community against Parasnath being developed into a tourist place, the Centre last week stayed all ecotourism activities at Sammed Shikhar and directed the state government to strictly enforce an existing ban on sale of liquor, other intoxicants and non-vegetarian food in the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary area.
Speaking on the occasion, ruling JMM’s legislator from Borio, Lobin Hembrom, said they would continue to fight for their rights.
“If our demands are not met, we would hold protest at Ulihatu (Birsa Munda’s birth place) on January 30 and at Bhognadih (in CM’s constituency Barhait in Sahebganj) in February,” said Lobin, who has been critical of his own government in the past over different issues.
Reacting to the Tuesday’s protest and demand, the local JMM legislator, Sudivya Kumar, said it was being sponsored by people with vested political interest.
“I had convened a meeting of all stakeholders in presence of the deputy commissioner at Madhuban on January 8. It was attended by members of the Jain and tribal community as well. It was clearly decided that status quo would be maintained at Parasnath and there would no change in the age-old customs and practices of both sides. No side would lose anything. And everyone agreed to it. But still, people protested today. It is being done by people with vested political interest, “ said Kumar.
