Champai for plan-wise agitation against RIMS 2 construction
Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren has announced a major public agitation against the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government regarding the construction of RIMS-2 (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences-2) at Nagri in Ranchi. The confrontation centers on a deep dispute over land rights, agricultural livelihood, and indigenous identity.
He stated that in the next ten days, lakhs of tribal and indigenous people (Adivasis and Moolvasis) will gather in support of the farmers of Nagri. Speaking to media persons, he said that despite hundreds of acres of land being available at various places in Ranchi, the manner in which the government is adamant about displacing farmers from fertile land makes its intentions absolutely clear.
He pointed out that this government has already taken hundreds of acres of land from HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation) and is preparing to take more than five hundred additional acres. “What is the problem with constructing the RIMS-2 hospital there?” he questioned.
He announced that to mobilize people for this movement, traditional drums (dugdugi) will be beaten from village to village to raise awareness. Additionally, a contribution of a handful of rice and ten rupees will be collected from every supporter.
The former CM stated that Ranchi city is built on the land of tribals and indigenous people. HEC acquired 7,200 acres of land but built the plant on only 500 acres.
125 acres of land were taken for the Law University. He highlighted that several such acquisitions have taken place, yet to this day, no one has received proper rehabilitation in any case. Furthermore, when HEC returned the unused land, instead of giving it back to the original landowners (raiyats), the government started selling it. What did those landowners get on whose land all of this is being built?
He argued that the land acquisition of 1957-58, which the government is citing, was never actually completed. Following protests at that time, the then Chief Minister, Dr. Shrikrishna Sinha, had spoken about halting the process. After that, the process was stopped, and the local farmers continued to pay land revenue (malguzari) for that land until 2012.
“Since no one accepted the compensation and farming continued uninterrupted, how can the acquisition be considered complete?” Soren asked.
Champai Soren’s statement has raised serious questions for the government amidst the silence of other leaders and tribal organizations on the Nagri issue.
It is worth noting that last year, following the former CM’s announcement of the Nagri movement, the government made heavy security arrangements and he was even placed under house arrest. However, when lakhs of people took to the streets in his support, the government was forced to step back.
