Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, March 21: Chuar Movement’s leading revolutionary, Shahid Raghunath Mahto’s 285th birth anniversary, organized by Chuar Sena was celebrated at Gopal Maidan in Bistupur on Tuesday. An estimated 30,000 people from across Jharkhand and West Bengal and Odisha participated in the programme.
Former MP Shailendra Mahto, West Bengal Minister Shrikant Mahto, Bengal’s powerful Kurmi leader Ajit Mahto, former MLA Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, Jharkhand agitator Harmohan Mahto and former MLA Surya Singh Besra were present as guests in the meeting to pay homage to the Chuar Movement leader, Shahid Raghunath Mahto.
Former MP Shailendra Mahato said that the Kurmis had played a revolutionary role in the formation of a separate state. “After the formation of Jharkhand, some tribal organizations are opposing the Kurmi caste’s inclusion in the list of Schedule Tribe (ST). In fact, the Kurmis have not derived any special privileges after the formation of this state and is still fighting for its rights.”
Kurmi leader Harmohan Mahato rejected the planning policy of 60-40 constituted by the state government and demanded rejection of the district roster as well. He demanded caste-based census in Jharkhand. Surya Singh Besra advocated the inclusion of Kurmi in the list of tribals to fulfill the dream of formation of tribal state, Jharkhand. “This dream cannot be fulfilled by only 26 percent tribals.”
The program was coordinated by Sheetal Ohdar. Kurmi leaders present on the stage included Dr Rajaram Mahato, Swapan Mahato, Kishore Mohan Mahato, Harishankar Mahato, Shailendra Mahato (Kurmi Sena), Pranav Mahato and Manik Chandra Mahato.
Cultural programmes including Natua dances and Kurmali songs were the other highlights of the celebrations.
West Bengal Kurmis ‘Rail Teka’ on April 5
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, March 21: West Bengal Kurmi community leader Ajit Mahto gave an outline of the ‘Rail Teka’ (Rail Blockade) agitation to be organized in the state (West Bengal) on April 5 in support of various demands and said that the one day agitation would also be a prelude to the ‘Rail Roko’ movement to be organized by the community in Jharkhand on September 20. Ajit Mahto claimed that Jharkhand Kurmis had assured support to the ‘Rail Teka’ agitation. West Bengal Minister Shrikant Mahto said that the Mamata Banerjee government had named a bridge after Raghunath Mahto the leading revolutionary of the Chuar Movement. Among others who addressed the preliminary meeting were Paresh Mahto from Bangladesh, Ratan Kurmi from Assam and President of Odisha State Kurmi Committee Dhrupad Mahato.