In Sorens’ bastion, Das calls them ‘thugs of J’khand’

DUMKA: Chief minister Raghubar Das on Monday dubbed the Soren family as “thugs of Jharkhand” who, he said, had been exploiting the state in the name of tribals for decades.

While addressing a rally in Dumka, from where Hemant Soren, JMM’s working president and chief ministerial face of the Opposition alliance is in the fray, Das said, “The Soren family has been accusing me of violating the CNT/SPR Act. But I assure the people that I have never done any such unconstitutional thing for my personal interests. In fact, the Soren family is the real thug of Jharkhand.”

“A separate Jharkhand state could have come into existence during the tenure of PM Narsimha Rao. However, Congress bribed Shibu Soren to save the Rao government at the Centre and instead of demanding a separate state at the time, he decided to accept the bribe which has been proved,” he said.

Das was addressing a rally after four BJP candidates, social welfare minister Lois Marandi, former MLA Devendra Kunwar, Paritosh Soren and Suresh Murmu filed their nominations from Dumka, Jarmundi, Shikaripara and Jama assembly seats, respectively. Das further alleged that Soren had bought tribal land in Santhal Parganas , violating the norms of the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act.

“The Soren family has never provided the Santhal tribe with education, irrigation, and other civic facilities. This family only wanted them to be in the dark so that they could rule over them,” the CM said. Das asserted that this election, BJP would win the Barhait and Jama assembly seats which have been held by JMM for years. Santhal Parganas goes to polls in the last phase on November 20.