Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tributes to Indian freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 118th death anniversary.
In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi termed Birsa Munda as fighter of Advasi identity and pride. Adivasi culture is the foundation of India, he added.
Rahul Gandhi said that “today the genuine tribute to Birsa Munda would be by standing with Advasis, who are facing repression and displacement”.
आदिवासी पहचान और स्वाभिमान के महान योद्धा, उलगुलान के नायक आबा बिरसा मुंडा को शहादत दिवस पर शत-शत नमन।
आदिवासी संस्कृति भारतीय सभ्यता की नींव है।दमन, विस्थापन और ‘विकास’ की मार झेल रहे आदिवासी भाई-बहनों के साथ खड़ा होना ही आज बिरसा को सच्ची श्रद्धांजलि होगी। pic.twitter.com/B1qrCLlcYP
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 9, 2018
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also paid tributes to the tribal icon Birsa Munda on his death anniversary.
Homage to the tribal icon Birsa Munda on his death anniversary
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 9, 2018
Birsa Munda was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe.
He spearheaded an Indian tribal religious movement that arose in the tribal belt of modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand in the late 19th century, during the British Raj.
He was captured, along with his tribal guerrilla army, by British forces on 3 March 1990.
Birsa Munda died in Ranchi Jail, on 9 June 1900, he was 25.
His portrait hangs in the Central Hall of the Indian parliament, the only tribal leader to have been so honoured.