SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, February 5: The Jharkhand assembly on Monday passed the confidence motion tabled by Chief Minister Champai Soren.
As many as 47 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion in the 81-member assembly, while 29 MLAs opposed it. Hemant Soren, who is in the ED custody, also participated in the confidence voting after the court’s permission.
On Sunday, the legislators flew back to Ranchi after spending days in Hyderabad.
Notably, Champai Soren took oath as chief minister on February 2 after Hemant Soren resigned following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Speaking on the confidence motion, Champai Soren said he was proud to be ‘Hemant Soren-part 2’ replying to a jibe of the Opposition.
Hemant hai to himmat hai
“Hemant Babu hain to himmat hai,” Champai reminded, adding the BJP tried to destabilise the government as soon as Trying to bring the focus back on tribal roots, he said Hemant worked in people’s best interest for their education, health, and pension.
“Is it a crime to send poor children abroad for studies?” he asked.
“I am a student of Shibu Soren, who taught me how to struggle,” he said.
Hemant’s name not in papers: CM
Questioning the ED action, the chief minister said that Hemant had to go to jail on the grounds of a paper of 8.5 acres in which his name is not mentioned.
He compared Hemant Soren with tribal icons Tilka Manjhi, Sido Kanhu and Birsa Munda.
“History is witness to the fact that whenever a brave tribal leader moves forward, there are efforts to suppress them,” he reminded.
“Is it a mistake to lighten a lamp in one’s heart where it was not lit in a house? He questioned.
CM attacks ED for selective action
Attacking the central agencies for selective action, Soren pointed out that Congress leader Bandhu Tirkey lost his right to fight the election after his conviction for embezzling Rs 5 lakh.
“On the other hand, the ED seized properties worth Rs 7 crore of BJP MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi, and yet he is sitting comfortably in the House,” he said.
“The central agencies, including ED/CBI/ IT, are being used to form the BJP government. It’s dangerous for democracy,” he warned.
Champai becomes CM under compulsion: Amar Bauri
Replying to the treasury bench attack, Leader of Opposition Amar Bauri said Champai Soren was named chief minister under compulsion.
“The result of anti-dynastic politics spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that the centre of power has shifted out of the Soren family,” he maintained.
Replying to Hemant Soren’s on how BR Ambedkar adopted the Buddha religion, Bauri said Ambedkar did not adopt any foreign religion lured by money and power. He adopted his own country’s religion, the BJP MLA pointed out.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Bauri alleged that Congress sent Shibu Soren and Madhu Koda to jail. “This is the pseudo-love of Congress for tribals,” he maintained.
Nort a leader of tribals
Rubbishing the tribal victim card, Bauri said he (Hemant Soren) is a tribal leader and not a leader of the tribals.
“Ambedkar did write in the Constitution that tribals and Dalits will not be punished if they commit corruption,” he pointed out.
AJSU party leader Sudesh Mahto, Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav and CPI (ML) MLA Vinod Singh also spoke on the confidence motion.
