Bhognadih. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday announced a “revolt” against “feudal forces” and said the opposition alliance ‘India’ will oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power across the country. Addressing a rally on the occasion of ‘Hool Diwas’ here, Soren claimed that the BJP has “panicked” after his release from jail and its leaders are again hatching a “conspiracy” against him.
He said, “After my release, I have come out of my house for the first time to address you on ‘Hool Diwas’. This is a day of inspiration for all of us. Like the Santhal rebellion against the British, we declare a ‘Hool rebellion’ to uproot feudal forces not only from Jharkhand but from the entire country.” Soren said, “I was implicated in false cases… The central government deploys its investigative agencies to harass those who raise their voice against it. It has been only two days since I came out of jail, but the BJP is nervous. The top leaders of the party are coming to Jharkhand again and again and are conspiring against me.” He said that Jharkhand is known as the land of revolutionaries and we are not afraid of jail, lathi or hanging.
Soren said, “It has come to my knowledge that they (BJP) are planning to hold assembly elections in Jharkhand before the scheduled time… I challenge them to hold elections on any day they want… We are ready for it. They will face a crushing defeat.” He claimed that when he started demanding the rights of tribals including Rs 1.36 lakh crore from the Center in exchange for coal resources, he was put behind bars. He said, “But, the work I have started and the fight I have waged will not stop.”
He said that a law will be brought to ensure that the benefits of mines and minerals reach the people of Jharkhand first. He said that the resources of the state are “making other places prosperous, while the residents here are forced to live in poverty and backwardness.” Targeting the Center, Soren alleged that the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing and examination question papers are being leaked every day.
The former chief minister was released from Birsa Munda Jail on Friday after the Jharkhand High Court granted him bail in the money laundering case. The working president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in a money laundering case related to the alleged land scam. On this occasion, Chief Minister Champai Soren alleged that his predecessor (Hemant Soren) was put in jail because he talks about the welfare of the poor, Dalits and tribals.
The Chief Minister said, “He (Hemant Soren) was sent to jail on false allegations made by those who looted Jharkhand.” Champai Soren also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 396 projects worth about Rs 290 crore. Hemant Soren’s wife and JMM MLA Kalpana Soren and brother Basant Soren were also present at the rally. Basant Soren is also a minister.