Jamshedpur Congress Protests Demolition Notice, Burns Effigies

Workers demonstrate against 150 house demolition notices in Bhuiyandih area

Jamshedpur Congress workers protested demolition notices for 150 houses, burning effigies of local leaders.

JAMSHEDPUR – Congress workers burned effigies of Saryu Ray and Arjun Munda, protesting demolition notices for 150 houses in Bhuiyandih.

Hundreds of Congress workers, led by District Working President (Urban) Dharmendra Sonkar, staged a demonstration at Sakchi Gol Chakkar against demolition notices issued to approximately 150 houses in Kalyan Nagar, Chhaya Nagar, and Indira Nagar areas of Bhuiyandih.

The protest came in response to recent revelations made by former MP Dr. Ajay Kumar, who disclosed that BJP’s former Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda had filed the initial complaint of illegal encroachment with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on August 30, 2023.

Speaking to the media after the effigy burning, Dharmendra Sonkar shed more light on the issue. "Local representative Saryu Ray is trying to deflect responsibility and confuse the matter," Sonkar stated.

He emphasized the need to understand the situation point by point, allowing the public to comprehend how the BJP, through figures like Saryu Ray and Arjun Munda, has been playing with the interests and lives of common people.

Sonkar acknowledged that the local circle office issued notices under the Jharkhand Public Land Encroachment (JPLE) Act on July 6, 2024. However, he pointed out that these notices were based on the complaint filed by Arjun Munda with the NGT.

"Four months ago, following NGT orders, the Water Resources Department, Mango Municipal Corporation, JNAC, and local district administration had to submit a joint survey report," Sonkar explained.

He stressed that local administration or departments cannot violate orders from central institutions like the NGT, even if they wanted to.

Sonkar demanded that Saryu Ray, as the local representative, explain under what circumstances a central minister for tribal affairs had to file an environmental complaint.

"Ray needs to tell his constituents why he’s defending Arjun Munda instead of questioning him about the NGT complaint," Sonkar concluded.