Ranchi: Under the banner of Sarhul Shobhajatra Pahan Sangh, hundreds of tribal leaders gathered on Saturday for a press conference in front of Bapu Vatika in Morhabadi, Ranchi. During the conference, the tribal leaders voiced their opposition to the construction of a flyover ramp in front of the Sarna site in Siramtoli, stating that they have been protesting against the project for the past four months.
Despite their ongoing protest, the administration and government have not addressed their concerns. In response, an important meeting has been called for May 5 at the Sarna Bhavan in Nagada Toli, where the next course of action will be determined.
Surendra Pahan from Kishunpur Mauja expressed that the government, which claims to promote good governance, is crushing the trust of the tribal community. He emphasized that the Sarna site in Siramtoli is not only a religious place but also a symbol of the tribe’s culture and traditions, which are respected both nationally and internationally. He argued that the construction of the ramp in front of this sacred site could endanger its existence.
Ram Pahan from Booti Mauja strongly questioned whether the government would have taken such actions if the site were a temple, mosque, or church. He stated that the tribal community considers the Sarna site holy, but the government is forcing them into protests.
Various tribal leaders and social activists warned that if the situation persists, the tribal culture and identity could be obliterated in the coming years. They expressed concern that a religious tradition, in existence since 1965, is now being crushed under the guise of development. They lamented the silence of the government, which was once called “Abua Sarkar” (Our Government) during the elections.
The press conference was attended by prominent leaders including Jura Pahan (Kharsidag), Peter Pahan (Pahadi Toli), Lakshman Pahan (Sonahatu), Ramnath Pahan (Budu), Diva Oraon (Madhukam), Sonu Pahan (Bhatta), and Bisheshwar Pahan, among others.