Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday said that registering an FIR against senior CRPF officers and jawans, a day after the Enforcement Directorate’s questioning of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is a government “mistake”.
The Ranchi district administration on January 21 lodged an FIR against senior CRPF officers for “violating” prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC during the questioning of Soren by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Speaking to the reporters, on the sidelines of the celebration of National Voters’ Day here, Radhakrishnan said, “Unnecessarily, a large gathering in front of the CM’s house had been organised. That is why the CRPF had to come. This was the government’s mistake. This type of attitude should be stopped”.
The Ranchi district administration had imposed prohibitory orders near Soren’s official residence, where he faced the ED questioning on January 20 from 7 am to 11 pm, disallowing any demonstration and public meetings.
An FIR was also lodged against JMM workers and ‘Bhim Army’ supporters for violating the orders.
Reacting to the Governor’s statement, the ruling JMM termed it “unexpected and unnecessary”. JMM said that the Governor should not express his displeasure on public platforms. JMM has accused the Governor of behaving like a political person. It was also said that the Governor's statement seems to be a translation of what BJP State President Babulal Marandi had said on this issue a few days ago. JMM said that being the highest Constitutional post in the state, the Governor will have not only legislative but also executive knowledge. In such a situation, it was unnecessary to criticize JMM workers by terming the FIR against CRPF as wrong.
JMM has made a series of attacks on the Governor. JMM said that the Governor should know that during the interrogation of the Chief Minister on January 20, CRPF jawans reached the Chief Minister's residence without his knowledge and tried to capture it. JMM said that the Governor is aware of the executive powers.
There are clear instructions in the executive that if any disaster occurs in any state or law and order is not under control, then the District Magistrate demands paramilitary forces, army or NDRF, but nothing like this was done on January 20. On the Governor's issue of creating ruckus by JMM workers, party General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that they had not called the supporters. They came voluntarily. The police had also stopped him. Supriyo Bhattacharya said that our supporters were very disciplined.