Scuffle averted between Tribals and officials

A group of the tribal leaders on Wednesday attempted to what they termed 'purify' the statue of Birsa Munda after it was garlanded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recently held roadshow in Ranchi, but were stopped midway by the administration resulting into a face-off between them and government officials.

Ranchi: An attempt by a group of tribal leaders to politicise the statue of state's most respected figure Birsa Munda on Wednesday was foiled by officials as tribal leaders were stopped and returned without performing the planned purification function on the statue. The impasse between agitators and officials was set to cause scuffle between them but officials managed to avert it.

Some committee members had managed to reach at Birsa Chowk despite heavy deployment of security forces but left the place after a face-off with officials who managed to persuade the agitators in the end.

The tribal leaders were unhappy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offering of flowers and garlanding the statue of Birsa Munda during his road show from Ranchi Airport to Birsa Chowk on Tuesday evening.

Following this, Central Sarna Committee of tribal groups from across the state had announced to conduct purification of the statue.

Committee had objected to what they called Modi government tried to tamper with CNT SPT law of Jharkhand that amounted to anti-tribal action of the centre.

According to the tribal leaders offering wreath on Birsa Munda's statue by Prime Minister had hurt their sentiments.

The administration took the committee's announcement seriously and Section 144 was clamped at Birsa Crossing as the tribal leaders marched towards it.

Heated arguments brewed up between the committee members and government officials but the matter finally was resolved amicably.