Jharkhand chief minister’s harsh criticism creates controversy
Team Clarion
RANCHI – Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s sharp criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has ignited a political storm in the state. During an online address to the people of Birhat, Soren compared RSS members to “rats” and accused the organisation of disrupting communal harmony in the state. His remarks have drawn strong reactions from both his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), escalating tensions ahead of upcoming political battles.
In his address, Soren said, “There has been no Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand,” rejecting BJP’s frequent claims of such activity in the state. He further accused the BJP and RSS of trying to divide Hindu and Muslim communities for electoral gain. “RSS people will destroy the society like rats,” he said sparking a heated political exchange.
The BJP was quick to condemn Soren’s statement, with Amar Bauri, Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, expressing disappointment. “How low will Hemant Soren stoop for power and vote bank politics?” Bauri remarked. He defended the RSS as a “nationalist organisation” founded in 1925 with the aim of promoting Sanatan culture and breaking the chains of colonial mentality. Bauri further accused Soren of disregarding the contributions of the RSS to Indian society and nationalism, adding, “Today, our Sanatana Dharma flourishes in part due to organisations like RSS.”
Bauri also criticised Soren for allegedly ignoring Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand to secure votes, suggesting that the chief minister’s comments were driven by a political agenda. He warned that Soren’s divisive rhetoric could harm the social fabric of the state.
Meanwhile, JMM’s central spokesperson Manoj Pandey defended Soren’s remarks, retaliating with his own critique of the RSS. Pandey questioned the RSS’s contribution to nation-building and India’s freedom struggle. “These people are actually rats,” he said echoing Soren’s words. He also pointed out that the RSS did not hoist the national flag at its headquarters for many years, casting doubt on its nationalist credentials.
Pandey further dismissed Amar Bauri’s defence of the RSS, referencing allegations made against the BJP regarding corruption and political opportunism. “Amar Bauri should think about the party that gave him recognition and how his own leader accused him of taking money to join the BJP,” Pandey added, intensifying the verbal sparring between the two parties.
The political clash over Soren’s comments reflects the deepening ideological divide between the ruling JMM and the BJP in Jharkhand. The chief minister’s remarks come at a critical time, as both parties position themselves ahead of upcoming elections, with communal harmony and nationalist rhetoric at the heart of the debate.
As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen how Soren’s comments will impact the political dynamics in Jharkhand, a state where tribal identity, secularism, and nationalism intersect in complex ways.
