Taking a strong note over the statement made by Chief Minister Hemant Soren that there would be bloodshed across the State if the BJP came to power, Union Minister Sudarshan Bhagat termed the statement as baseless coming naturally out of frustration of the Jharkhand Chief Minister.
Soren during a public meeting on Tuesday had said that the BJP, being an anti-tribal party, would try to make changes in the existing Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act.“The statement made by Soren is far from truth, which has been given during elections, only in reaction to the huge mass support extended by the people of Jharkhand towards the BJP,” said the Union who was addressing media persons with Ranchi Mayor Asha lakra at BJP headquarters in Ranchi on Wednesday.
Bhagat further added that despite being in power for several years in Jharkhand, the BJP never made any modifications during its regime. “Soren government within 14 months of its tenure made changes in the Act expanding the jurisdictions of purchasing land from Police Station to District level only to safeguard the huge property gathered by the Soren family all over the state,” he said.
Soren being a native of Nemra village or Ramgarh, has purchased 16 kattha of land at Khijuria in Dumka as well at other places like Dhanbad, Bokaro, Godda, Dhanbad etc, added the Union Minister.Bhagat also promised that a probe would be ordered against those who had transgressed the Act and also against those on whose instance the crime was done, if BJP came to power in the State.
lakra on the other hand charged Soren government for not being able to digest the achievements made by the Modi government at the centre during five months rule in the Country.“BJP has always worked in the interest of tribal people in the state which the tribal society knows well and are definitely going to vote for the party during these elections,” said lakra.
In-spite of counting the achievements during their tenure of governance of 14 months in the state, Soren is pointing fingers on the Modi's rule at the centre, she said.
“Who are playing with CNT Act is not a secret anymore, she said. “In order to legalize their properties purchased across the state amended the age old CNT Act in the state,” lakra added.lakra alleged that there is a plot of 19 kattha of land at Govindpur which was declared by Soren in his affidavit filed during 2009 Assembly elections while his sister in law Sita Soren has a 3200 square feet land in Bokaro Industrial Area. “A probe will be ordered against all those who contravened the Act,” she said.
Both Bhagat and lakra also charged that no initiative was taken by Soren regarding the development of tribal people in the state, despite remaining in the power for the last 14 months.“Soren took over as Chief Minister from Arjun Munda on the issue of domicile but even after 14 months of his governance, no consensus was reached on the domicile policy in the state; it seems Soren is not able to speak his words under the pressure of his alliance partners - Congress and RJD,” said lakra.