THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Jan 1: Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda stated that on this day, January 1, 1948, the first firing incident in independent India took place in Kharsawan, resulting in countless deaths.
Paying tribute to the martyrs, he remarked, “For years, we have worked to uphold the tradition of paying homage on January 1 and preserving the dignity of this place.”
Munda accused the Congress government of firing bullets at tribals, saying, “The sons of the soil sacrificed their lives, turning this site into a place of inspiration. Unfortunately, for a long time, successive governments ignored the significance of this site. Previously, a market was set up here, which tarnished the sanctity of this martyrdom site.”
He added, “When the public elected me as their representative, I made every effort to restore the dignity of this place. It is heartening to see thousands of people coming here today to pay their respects.”
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Speaking on the occasion, Munda emphasized that the entire nation is in mourning. He criticized the administration for its lack of respect during this time, noting, “Despite seven days of state mourning being declared to honor former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, banners and posters of various political parties are displayed at multiple locations. This reflects administrative failure and highlights the indifference of these parties toward the late former Prime Minister. Political parties and officials must understand how to conduct themselves during national mourning. If we cannot show respect to others, we do not deserve respect ourselves.”
Munda also mentioned that, as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Dharti Aba Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the Government of India has undertaken an initiative to identify and honor martyrs from across the country. He urged the state government to cooperate in this effort.
Prominent attendees included former MLA Shri Mangal Singh Soy, BJP State Spokesperson Shri J.B. Tubid, former candidate Smt. Meera Munda, BJP District President of Saraikela Shri Uday Singhdeo, former District President Shri Vijay Mahato, and hundreds of BJP workers. Together, they gathered at Shaheed Bedi to pay their tributes to the martyrs.