The JMM observed slain leader Nirmal Mahto’s 35th death anniversary on Monday. Floral tributes were paid to the statue of the departed leader, who was gunned down in 1987 in front of the Chamaria guest house at Bistupur area here and Kadma.

Several leaders cutting across party lines today paid homage to slain Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Nirmal Mahto on his death anniversary. Thousands of people also thronged Kadma to pay floral tributes to Nirmal Mahato at his mausoleum on his death anniversary.

Addressing the gathering Soren said, “The need of the hour is to work genuinely for the development of the State as Nirmal Da laid his life for the creation of a separate state to make tribals of this region earn livelihood with dignity.”

The CM said the Government in the State would ensure the development of Jharkhand. We are launching several development projects that would help in improving the present living standard of the people of Jharkhand.

Later, in the day senior functionaries of JMM including Transport Minister Champai Soren, reached the venue to pay their homage to one of the most popular leaders of Kolhan.

Thousands of people thronged Kadma to pay floral tributes to Nirmal Mahto at his mausoleum on his 35th death anniversary. On this occasion, tributes were paid to him at his Samadhi Sthal at Uliyan in Kadma and Martyrdom Sthal at Chamaria Guest House in Bistupur. There was an influx of veterans of Kolhan arriving here one after the other.

Apart from Minister Champai Soren, senior leaders associated with the party were also present on the occasion. Along with him, a group of party workers reached the site one after the other. The whole atmosphere reverberated with the slogans of Jai Jharkhand and Veer Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Amar Rahe. At the same time, the entire martyrdom site was covered with flags and banners of the JMM.

On this occasion, Soren said in his address that the present Hemant Soren government is serious about the creation of Jharkhand based on Nirmal da's dreams. Work is being done rapidly in that direction. It is the moral duty of every Jharkhandis to take a pledge to make Jharkhand their dreams by remembering them on this day. Earlier, Minister Champai Soren paid homage to the late Nirmal Da's statue installed at the Chamaria Guest House main gate and paid his respects.

Ichagarh MLA Savita Mahto, former MLA Ramdas Soren, party leaders Sheikh Badruddin, Mahavir Murmu, Kablu Mahto and other party leaders and workers.

The gathering this year was relatively high with people from Odisha and West Bengal coming in huge numbers, a first of its kind in recent years, while, party members from districts like Dumka, Sahebjang and Pakur too, have turned up in impressive strength.

Mahto maintained that with the increase in the reach of Nirmal Da's ideology amongst the party workers of neighbouring states particularly, West Bengal and Odisha their turnout is on increase over the years.