In a bold move to honour tribal icon Shibu Soren, the Jharkhand Congress has demanded that the former chief minister be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. The party also called for a tribal university to be established in his name and his residence to be declared a heritage site.

The demands were made during a condolence meet held at the state Congress headquarters in Ranchi on Thursday, where party leaders gathered to pay tribute to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) co-founder. Soren, who played a pivotal role in the creation of Jharkhand, passed away on Monday at a private hospital in Delhi.

Speaking to the media, Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh said, “Shibu Soren ji’s contributions to Jharkhand are unforgettable. We have written to our Members of Parliament, urging the central government to honour him with the Bharat Ratna.”

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Kamlesh added, “We also demand the establishment of a tribal university in his name, and that his residence be preserved as a heritage site so future generations can witness the legacy he left behind.”

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Subodhkant Sahay hailed Soren as a “towering tribal leader” whose influence extended beyond Jharkhand. Health Minister Irfan Ansari echoed the sentiment, saying, “If we can dream of becoming MLAs or ministers today, it’s because of his struggle for a separate Jharkhand.”

Congress MLA Rajesh Kachhap described Soren as a guiding light for the marginalized, particularly tribals. “He fought for ‘Jal, Jungle, and Jamin’ (water, forest, and land). His death is a great loss for all,” he said.

Congress legislature party leader Pradeep Yadav concluded by pledging that the party would carry forward Soren’s unfulfilled dreams and continue working for the betterment of the people he fought so hard to uplift.

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