A recent celebration of the 141st Dharani Dhar Jayanti on May 5 in the native village of Dharani Dhar Naik was no doubt a salutary step by the district administration and a great tribute to the revolutionary leader of Keonjhar, but the resignation of Ganesh Chandra Munda, Sarpanch of Bardapal GP, in protest against not being invited to the event sparked a controversy.
Sources revealed that Kusumita, the native village of the legendary Dharani Dhar, comes under Baradapal GP of Sadar block in Keonjhar district. So the arrangement started before one/ two days of the event and it was natural for Ganesh to expect an invitation from the Jayanti Committee to attend the programme at least as a guest. But to his dismay, the committee did not prefer to show any such courtesy towards him.
Ganesh who claims to be a true descendant of Dharani Dhar - a symbol of self- respect and revolution, immediately tendered his resignation before the Collector, Keonjhar on the same date. However, Collector Ashish Thackrey managed the situation by persuading him to take back his resignation.
Another sensational thing aggrieved Ganesh revealed in his letter is that the Jayanti Committee collected funds for the programme from local industries and mines but did not require him at the time of offering tribute to the leader. On the other hand, sources revealed that the Collector as the Chairman of DMF fund has sanctioned funds for the celebration of the Jayanti.
Now, a question arises is if the Collector had sanctioned funds for the function, why money was collected from industries and mines for a Government programme.
There is a demand to launch an inquiry into the allegation of fund collection as would be a true respect to the son of the soil Dharani Dhar who stood for unrighteousness and probity.