Pathalgadi movement: Tide turns against Jharkhand CM Raghubir Das as land acquisition, anti-conversion bills meet with resistance

A series of protests over government-sanctioned amendments on land rights, accompanied by communal clashes and mob lynching incidents, have left the state of Jharkhand shaken Editor’s note: Pathalgadi are stone slabs bearing inscriptions that villagers in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have, over the past year, appropriated to declare their “independence” from the state and central government, and as signposts to mark tribal agitation. The state government also saw vehement protests within its fold when Sudesh Mahto, president of the All Jharkhand Student Union and part of the ruling dispensation, publicly denounced the government’s domicile policy that was introduced in April 2016, followed by the proposed amendments to the CNT and SPT acts. The party and government merged as one during his tenure and all decisions are being taken in the chief minister’s house,” says Chandan Mishra, political editor of a prominent national daily published from Ranchi. The party is still doing its bit, but it’s for the government to listen to people’s genuine concerns and address them,” said former chief minister and BJP stalwart Arjun Munda.