Jharkhand Floor Test LIVE: ‘If proved, will quit politics’: Hemant Soren on ED arrest in land scam case

Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Monday accused governor CP Radhakrishnan of being involved in his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate last week.

“On the night of January 31, for the first time in the country, a CM was arrested…and I believe that Raj Bhavan was also involved in this incident,” he said in the Jharkhand Assembly, ahead of the floor test.

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Former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren says, “Main aansu nahi bahaunga, aansu waqt ke liye rakhuga, aap logo ke liye aansu ka koi matlab nahi…”

Hemant Soren says, “Today I have been arrested on charges of 8.5 acre land scam. If they have the courage, then show the documents of the land registered in my name. If it is proved, I will quit politics.”

“When will people be arrested from Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha?” asks Hemant Soren as he addresses the state Assembly

Soren challenged the Centre to hold him responsible in the ₹8 crore scam. He added, “They decided to remove me because they couldn’t take an Adivasi sitting on the CM post. They had an issue that I was flying in planes, sitting in BMW cars, and staying in 5-star hotels.”

“When they couldn’t win politically, they stabbed me in the back”, said Hemant Soren addressing the assembly.

“They think by putting me behind bars, they will succeed, this is Jharkhand. This is Jharkhand, this is a state where Adivasis have fought for their rights in every city,” Hemant Soren says.

The evening of Jan 31 was a black day. It was the first time a CM was arrested like that. I believe the Raj Bhavan was a part of [ED’s arrest] the events that unfolded, says former CM Hemant Soren.

“I am the student of Shibu Soren who taught me during the Jharkhand Andolan. Today, wherever you go, you will see Hemant Soren’s schemes. He lit a diya in everyone’s heart. This cannot be undone,” Champai Soren says.

“ED, IT exist to save the Central government and to wrongfully bring them to power in State assemblies,” CM Champai Soren says

“We are bringing trust vote today, but Hemant babu proved it in 2019 only,” CM Champai Soren says.

“Hemant hai to himmat hai (If Hemant Soren is there we have courage) and The Adivasis and moolvasis of Jharkhand suffered from economic, social suppression. Hemant babu thought of them. He linked all people deprived to welfare schemes. ‘ye kya gunaah hai kya’ (is this a crime),” CM Champai Soren addresses Jharkhand Assembly.

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren declares in assembly during floor test debate,”I proudly say that I am part-2 of Hemant Soren.”

CM Champai Soren in assembly during trust vote, says, “BJP tried to destabilise democratically elected Jharkhand government”.

Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren moves confidence motion in 81-member Jharkhand Assembly

Current CM Champai Soren is currently speaking in Jharkhand Assembly

Legislators begin protesting between Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan’s speech ahead of the floor test.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, who was arrested, received a warm welcome with slogans of ‘Hemant Soren Zindabad’ inside the Assembly.

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan is currently addressing the state assembly ahead of the floor test.

The Jharkhand High Court has requested a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the petition filed by Hemant Soren against the arrest. The court has instructed the ED to submit the reply by February 9. The next hearing is on February 12.

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren arrives at the state Assembly

“They continuously insulted and harassed the constitutional organisations. They don’t even have confidence in their own MLAs that’s why they (JMM, RJD, Congress MLAs) left Ranchi’s ‘dhaan’ (rice) for Hyderabad’s ‘biryani’,” says BJP leader Anant Kumar Ojha ahead of the floor test in Jharkhand Assembly today.

“We don’t have any strategy, we believe in Constitution. We don’t believe in operation lotus, it’s just a propaganda set by media. We believe in Constitution, and we will do anything possible within the premises of Constitution,” says Godda BJP MLA Amit Mandal.

“They (JMM) don’t trust their own MLAs and that is why this situation has arised. The BJP never indulges in such wrongdoings (referring to allegations of poaching). Those who are in politics just for money and family, they are involved in such activities,” says BJP leader Babulal Marandi.

JMM Lok Sabha MP Vijay Kumar Hansda says, “I think everyone can see our unity. We stand strongly with Hemant Soren. People have understood the dirty game of BJP…”

Jharkhand Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto arrives at Assembly in Ranchi ahead of floor test.

Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi arrives at the State Assembly in Ranchi. He says, “…JMM is scared of its MLAs and that is why they are keeping an eye on them. BJP does not do anything wrong like this (poaching of MLAs). We do not make democracy a shop. People who do politics for money and family do this kind of work.”

Jharkhand BJP MLAs arrive at the State Assembly in Ranchi ahead of the Floor Test.

On the Floor Test of Jharkhand CM Champai Soren-led government, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA Kamlesh Kumar Singh told reporters, “Our party is with NDA & whatever decision NDA takes, we will support them…”

“Let’s see what happens. You all will also see. It is just a matter of some time,” says Jharkhand BJP MLA Aparna Sen Gupta.

Rachana Reddy, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Hyderabad, criticised the relocation of Jharkhand MLAs to Telangana, claiming that the Congress-ruled state was purportedly “misusing resources.”

Reddy told ANI, “Telangana right now has become the centre, the capital of resort politics in India…The resources and the money of Telangana are all being pulled towards allegedly protecting their MLAs from being poached…”

A bus pulls up at the Circuit House in Ranchi, where MLAs of the JMM-led ruling alliance are currently accommodated.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a petition in the Jharkhand High Court challenging the FIR lodged against its officials by former Chief Minister Hemant Soren under the SC/ST Act. The petition was submitted on February 3rd.

LoP Amar Kumar Bauri says, “…Instead of fulfilling the promises they had made, they gave priority to corruption…We hope he (Champai Soren) will fulfil the promises for which they were elected…Their (JMM and Congress) MLAs are still in custody. Today in the Assembly, we want to know what their (MLAs) conscience will say…”

JMM leader Manoj Pandey says, “I think it is just a formality. The spirit of the opposition is already low seeing the numbers and the unity of the INDIA alliance. The figure can also cross 48. Our party, our alliance is united…Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren will also be present and will vote during the floor test…”

On the Jharkhand floor test today, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya says, “Floor test will be done. (We have) not less than 47.”

Before the Jharkhand assembly floor test slated for today, Pratul Shah Deo, the spokesperson for the state BJP, initiated a new criticism against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. He claimed that Jharkhand faced humiliation in the eyes of the national and international community when the Chief Minister was reportedly on the run for 40 hours without any communication with top state officials.

“Whatever the result of the confidence motion, one thing is clear: Jharkhand has lost. The way Jharkhand was humiliated in front of the national and international community is absolutely shocking. A CM was a fugitive on the run for 40 hours without any trace, without any contact with the top officials of the state. The people of the state were left at their own mercy and the way the CM was accused of ₹70,000 crore corruption, he had to step down, he was then arrested…” said BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo, ANI reported.

Jharkhand High Court will be hearing former CM Hemant Soren’s petition against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate today.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, “Hemant Soren resigns on 31 January but it takes 2 days to make Champai Soren the Chief Minister…BJP believes that poaching of MLAs will be easy in Jharkhand and we will break the INDIA alliance…”

After JMM MLAs were sent to Hyderabad amidst the political unrest in Jharkhand, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Lobin Hembrom on Sunday said that he was neither informed about the shifting of legislators nor he was informed about it.

“Neither I was asked nor informed. They will only say why they (JMM MLAs) went. If we are one, then we should stay together. If they are so afraid then we should stay united. I request the Champai Soren government to impose a ban on the consumption and selling of liquor. Secondly, the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, when this State was separated, SPT act was formed in Santhal Parganas…Illegal grabbing of land is flourishing. It is my next demand from the government. I demand the constitution of a Commission for displaced people,” Hembrom said.

ANI

As Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) coalition MLAs departed from Hyderabad on Sunday, having spent the weekend safeguarded from potential poaching attempts, Bihar Congress MLAs arrived in the city for a similar purpose.

The floor test for the new government in Bihar is scheduled for February 12.

Despite no longer being an ally in the new government due to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s switch to the NDA, Congress aims to maintain cohesion among its members and, thus, relocated the MLAs to Hyderabad. While officially stated as a visit to meet Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, news agencies reported that the MLAs would stay in Hyderabad until February 11.

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Ahead of the special session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, the Ranchi district administration has enforced Section 144 of CrPC within a 100-meter radius of the assembly building.

According to an official order, the restrictions will be in effect from 8:00 am on Monday until 10:00 pm on Tuesday.

District administration officials have outlined that the directives prohibit any type of procession, rally, demonstration, or encroachment in the specified area, as mentioned in the circular, ANI reported.