‘Won't Shed Tears, For You Tears Of Adivasis Have No Value,' Says Hemant Soren During Floor Test

Speaking at the state assembly ahead of the trust vote on Monday, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he would not shed tears as the tears of indigenous people and backward sections do not matter.

Taking part in the confidence motion moved by his successor Champai Soren in the assembly, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, said “I Will not shed tears. Will save it for the future as the tears of indigenous people and backward sections do not matter. (Main aansu nahi bahaunga, aansu waqt ke liye rakhuga, aap logo ke liye aansu ka koi matlab nahi).”

Soren, who resigned as Chief Minister on January 31 amid charges of money laundering, added, “I will give a befitting reply to the feudal forces at an appropriate time.”

Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) soon after he resigned as the chief minister. Backed by MLAs from JMM, the Congress and other allies, Soren’s close aide, Champai Soren, took oath as Chief Minister on February 2 and won the majority test in the 81-member assembly on Monday.

The arrested former chief minister also challenged the BJP to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusations are proved, he will quit politics.

Hemant Soren also alleged that the Raj Bhavan was instrumental in his arrest after a conspiracy hatched by the Centre.

“I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proved, I will resign from politics,” said Hemant Soren.

The ex-chief minister who is in ED custody now was allowed by a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court to participate in the trust vote.

“January 31 was a black chapter in India’s history. A chief minister was arrested at the behest of the Raj Bhavan… The BJP doesn’t want a tribal CM to complete 5 years in Jharkhand; they did not allow this even in their regimes,” Hemant Soren said.

Except non-tribal BJP leader Raghubar Das, none of the other 10 previous chief ministers belonging to the saffron party or JMM could complete a full five-year term in the state which was formed in 2000.

Claiming that Tribals would be forced to shun their religion as BR Ambedkar was compelled to convert to Buddhism, he alleged that the BJP considers Tribals “untouchable”.

“Tribals and Dalits are not safe under the present regime in the country… I will come back with more strength. Opposition’s conspiracy will be thwarted,” Hemant Soren said.

When the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony at Ayodhya took place on January 22, the BJP had stated it would bring Ram Rajya, he said, adding: “First they destabilise the government in Bihar and then in Jharkhand.” When the former chief minister reached the assembly, the ruling JMM-led alliance MLAs greeted him with slogans like “Hemant Soren zindabad”.

(With PTI inputs)