"Irresponsible, blatant disrespect": Chhattisgarh CM condemns Hemant Soren's alleged remarks on tribal leaders

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 30 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday strongly condemned former Jharkhand CM and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren's alleged remarks on "tribal leaders appointed by the Bharatiya Janata Party" (BJP).
CM Sai referred to Soren's remarks as irresponsible and blatant disrespect to the "progress and dignity of tribal communities."
"The reality is that the growing popularity of the BJP among tribal communities, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, women, and the youth has left the opposition's INDIA alliance visibly shaken. This fear is prompting them to resort to reckless statements. However, the public will not tolerate any comments that demean society. They will respond appropriately to such insults," the Chief Minister said.
"The recent criticism from former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren against tribal leaders appointed by the BJP is not only baseless but also an insult to tribal and backward communities across India," he said.
CM Sai claimed that the people of Jharkhand are prepared to teach the ruling party a lesson in the upcoming assembly elections.
"The Soren family's history of tarnishing the reputation of the tribal community through their actions is well-known and continues to be a matter of public disdain. Their record of corruption, including the recent bribery scandal, remains fresh in the public's memory," he said.
"Hemant Soren needs to understand that merely being granted bail does not equate to being exonerated from all crimes. The final judicial verdict is still pending," CM Sai added.
Soren, who is facing a probe in an alleged land scam, was released on bail following a Jharkhand High Court directive on June 29 after 149 days in custody since his arrest on January 31, 2024.
The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores.
The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren's FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED's searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal.
The ED had claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions.
He had resigned as Chief Minister hours before his arrest on January 31 paving the way for senior leader Champai Soren to taken over.