THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, January 25: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Hemant Soren, accusing him of insulting Republic Day and the Constitution by failing to hoist the national flag in Dumka on January 26, 2026.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Ranchi, Marandi said the Chief Minister will not hoist the tricolour in Dumka, the sub-capital of Jharkhand, on Republic Day due to his foreign tour, and not because of any emergency or unavoidable situation.
‘State Will Not Run From Streets of London’
Marandi alleged that not only the Chief Minister, but also senior state officials are abroad on Republic Day. He said the state will not be governed by shopping and sightseeing on the streets of London.
‘Insult to Democracy and National Pride’
Marandi said the Chief Minister’s absence on Republic Day reflects his attitude towards national pride, democracy, and the Constitution. He described it as an insult to the country’s independence and constitutional values.
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He added that those who carry the Constitution in their hands and pockets, and wave it in assemblies and on streets, forget its sanctity on national festivals like Republic Day.
Questions on European Tour and Expenditure
Marandi said the Davos visit ended on January 23, and chief ministers and officials from other states have already returned to India. However, he alleged that the Jharkhand Chief Minister and accompanying officials remained abroad along with their families.
He demanded that the state government release a complete account of the Chief Minister’s European tour, including details of meetings, duration of stay, and expenditure. He asked what could be more important than Republic Day.
MoUs Signed in Davos Questioned
Marandi questioned the signing of MoUs with the Tata Group and Naveen Jindal in Davos, stating that these agreements could have been signed in Ranchi. He claimed that the Tata project is already an ongoing project.
He further alleged that the Chief Minister pressured Tata to sign the MoU in Davos to secure approval for a project that had been pending for five years.
‘Public Is Being Misled’
Marandi alleged that the Chief Minister considers the public foolish and is trying to mislead people by generating publicity through advertisements and newspaper coverage.
Drawing a comparison, he said that the British once looted India from London, and now the Chief Minister is allegedly spending Jharkhand’s resources in the same city.
He said the money belongs to the poor people of Jharkhand, and the Chief Minister will have to account for every rupee.
BJP media in-charge Shivpujan Pathak, co-media in-charge Yogendra Pratap Singh, and spokesperson Rafia Naz were also present at the press conference.
