SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, January 25: Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan today blamed the State government and the ruling JMM for ‘deploying’ the CRPF at the CM residence when the ED was questioning Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the Ranchi land scam.
Responding to a query on the FIR against the CRPF IG and others by the district administration for allegedly violating the prohibitory order on January 20, the Governor said it was the mistake of the State government and the JMM.
“Why was there an unnecessarily large crowd when the questioning was on?” he asked while speaking to media persons after addressing a National Voter’s Day function at the Ranchi University auditorium.
“This crowd had gathered under a fixed strategy. That’s why CRPF had to come. This is the government and the party’s mistake. Such traditions should be stopped,” he said.
Notably, on January 20, CRPF personnel reached the CM residence in around five buses during the ED’s interrogation of Hemant Soren.
The State government took it seriously and said it was wrong for the CRPF personnel to rush to the CM’s residence without permission from the district administration. Later, the Jharkhand police lodged an FIR against the CRPF IG, commandant and unknown 500 personnel for violating the prohibitory order.
The State government’s action against the CRPF sparked controversies, bringing the ruling JMM and the BJP face to face. The JMM alleged that the CRPF was rushed to the CM House to create a situation inviting the President’s rule in the State.
The BJP, on the other hand, alleged that the district administration allowed over 10,000 JMM workers armed with bows and arrows to attack the ED sleuths.
Corruption-free government
In reply to another question, Radhakrishnan said we must pledge to eradicate corruption on National Voter’s Day. “If you want real development, roads, schools, and education, we must eradicate corruption. There is no other way out,” he maintained.
Powerful weapon
Radhakrishnan said that voting rights are a powerful weapon for voters in a democracy.
“People should rise above caste, religion, sect and temptation and exercise their right to vote. This will strengthen democracy,” he said.
The Governor said that the basis of democracy is public opinion, and the basis of public opinion is voting.
“Voting by a qualified person strengthens democracy. Technology is also being used by the Election Commission to make voters aware. Examples include c-Vigil, Booth App, Voter Helpline App, Suvidha App, etc. The results of voter awareness have also been reflected. 9,81,690 new voters have been added to the voter list in Jharkhand. The number of voters in the final voter list published on January 22, 2024, is 2,53,86,152.