Hyderabad: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday paid tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his 151st birth anniversary in Hyderabad. He also honoured Komuram Bheem at the latter’s statue on Tank Bund Road.
The BJP Telangana State ST Morcha held a ‘Janajatiya Gaurav Divas’ (Tribal Respect Day) rally to mark the occasion. It started at the Swami Vivekananda statue and ended at the Komuram Bheem statue. Participants then offered tributes to a portrait of Birsa Munda there.
Kishan Reddy later told the media that he had seen a historic moment during his time as Union Culture Minister. He said the British had imprisoned Birsa Munda in the old Central Jail in Ranchi. That jail became a memorial museum honouring his sacrifices, Reddy said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the museum to the nation on Birsa Munda Jayanti, November 15, 2021. Reddy said he personally attended that event in Ranchi. He called the conversion of the jail a great privilege. The museum will carry Birsa Munda’s fighting spirit, tribal history and their sacrifices to future generations, he said. He added that he was fortunate to be part of the programme as Culture Minister.
On Birsa Munda anniversary, Kishan Reddy says Centre committed to tribal welfare
Kishan Reddy regretted that no government official had visited remote tribal areas for the last 75 years. He said people there had also missed out on proper welfare schemes.
According to Kishan Reddy, Naxalites had blocked development in tribal areas. He said only the Narendra Modi government was able to eradicate them and open the way for progress. The Centre is now working sincerely to rehabilitate victims of Naxalites and wipe out Naxalism completely, he said.
Under Modi’s leadership, he said, many programmes are under way for tribal development and the welfare of tribal women and families. Free ration rice, basic infrastructure, education and housing are raising tribal living standards, he said.
Kishan Reddy also said many tribal heroes fought for the country without caring for their lives. The Modi government, he said, took steps to hold official celebrations of Alluri Sitarama Raju’s birth anniversary under the Government of India.
He reiterated the Central Government’s commitment to tribal welfare and to protecting tribal self-respect.