Latest news with #Marandi
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Officers close to Jharkhand CM conspiring against me, alleges BJP leader Babulal Marandi
Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Monday expressed apprehension of a threat to his life by the State government and made a series of allegations against the regime. Mr. Marandi, the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has accused the State government that people close to incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren have taken a 'contract to harm him and his family'. He further claimed that something bad can happen to him and his family anytime. The BJP leader pointed out that despite all the threats and conspiracies, he will continue to raise issues related to corruption and loot in the government system. 'I have come to know from my reliable sources that the Chief Minister and his corrupt officers have taken a supari (contract) to threaten and scare me. There is a conspiracy going on to attack me and add my name in false cases. It can happen against me, my family members and the people associated with me,' Mr. Marandi said during a press briefing in Giridih. The BJP leader asserted that all this is happening because he keeps exposing the government and the alleged corruption being carried out by the officers holding top posts in the current regime. As Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Marandi has been continuously attacking the Soren government accusing them of being involved in a liquor scam, sand scam, mining scam, land scam and illegal mining of coal and stones in Jharkhand. Mr. Marandi has been vocal on the issue of developmental schemes being run by the government alleging that they are riddled with corruption. 'I want to bring to the notice of the media when there was a government of Hemant Soren in 2013, that time also Naxalites of Shikaripara in Dumka district were given supari. Then, I exposed the government about it in front of the media when there was a UPA [government] in both the State and Centre,' Mr. Marandi explained, adding that upon the news coming out, the Centre had withdrawn his security provided by the State government back then. State conspiracy Mr. Marandi reiterated that last night he had come to know that the State government is once again conspiring to harm him. 'I must tell them that nobody can suppress my voice to raise the issues related to corruption and loot in Jharkhand, no matter what price I pay for it,' Mr. Marandi said. Reacting to the allegations, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson Tanuj Khatri said: 'Babulal Marandi seems to have no constructive work left, which is why he is resorting to baseless allegations that have no connection with reality. Making such low-level political statements without any evidence reflects a state of mental bankruptcy.' 'These repeated and irresponsible remarks appear to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and divert attention from the good work being done by the Hemant Soren government. Under his visionary leadership, Jharkhand has entered a new phase of inclusive development, tribal welfare, and people-centric governance,' he further said. Mr. Khatri added, 'From rural infrastructure to education, healthcare to employment, the government has prioritised real issues and delivered results. Rather than recognising these efforts, Opposition leaders are indulging in sensationalism. We strongly condemn such petty politics and urge everyone to focus on progress, not provocation. The people of Jharkhand deserve truth, not theatrics.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Babulal sheds crocodile tears for tribal land owners, says JMM
Ranchi: JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya on Sunday accused the leader of the opposition and state BJP president Babulal Marandi of shedding crocodile tears for tribal raiyyats (landowners), who are opposing land acquisition for second campus of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (Rims) in Nagri area under the Kanke block. Speaking to media persons on Sunday, Bhattacharya said during Marandi's tenure as chief minister, police firing incidents took place during which people protesting against land acquisitions for projects in Tapkara in Khunti and Neterhaat in Latehar were fired upon. Marandi should apologise for the incidents, the JMM leader said. Notably, Marandi visited Nagri on Saturday and met people, who were opposing Rims-2 in their area. Marandi alleged that the state govt wanted to displace tribals from their agricultural land but he would not allow the acquisition of even an inch without approval of the gram sabha in the villages. Reacting to Marandi's visit and statement, Bhattacharya said so far, the state govt has not issued any notification regarding the place where the new hospital would be built and according to the plan, the new hospital should come up along the ring road. He also claimed that Marandi is raising the issues to serve the interest of one Sunil Sahu. "Details will be provided later on," the JMM leader said. Bhattacharya also said Marandi as the first CM of Jharkhand, adopted the Bihar rules for administering the state which was against the vision of separate Jharkhand for preventing exploitation and protection of tribal identity and rights. He also said during that period, the opposition had demanded the framing of the state's own rules for protecting the tribal land, but Marandi ignored it. "There is a provision in the Land Acquisition and Reform Act 2013 which states that any acquired land not used for five years should be returned to the raiyyats. Marandi must request the BJP-led central govt to return the surplus land of Steel Authority of India Limited, Coal India Limited and Heavy Engineering Corporation in the state," Bhattacharya said. He also took potshots at Marandi saying that when BJP national president and Union health minister J P Nadda called the state's health minister Irfan Ansari for discussions on improving the health facilities in Jharkhand, the state BJP president felt bad about it as he was ignored.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Hemant Soren government should take steps to stop conversion if they are concerned about tribals: LoP Marandi
RANCHI: Amid the ongoing protest by the JMM and Congress demanding a Sarna Religion Code, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi said that if these parties are truly concerned, they should take concrete steps to stop the conversion of tribals to Christianity. According to Marandi, if all tribals who believe in Marang Buru or worship nature are converted to Christianity, then who will write 'Sarna' in the separate column of the census form. Notably, tribal leaders across Jharkhand have been demanding the implementation of a Sarna Code in census surveys to identify tribals as followers of the Sarna faith. Marandi said religious conversion has become a major challenge in Jharkhand, which is why the previous Raghuvar Das-led BJP government had brought in a bill to curb it. Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Ranchi, Marandi cited the 2011 caste census, claiming that 15.48% of the tribal population in Jharkhand had converted to Christianity. He added that nearly 26% of Oraon, around 33% of Munda, over 67% of Kharia, more than 2% of Ho, and about 1% of Santhal populations had adopted Christianity. 'Why doesn't the government explain how lakhs of tribals who traditionally followed the Sarna religion have now been converted to Christianity?' he asked. Marandi said that in 2011, Jharkhand's total population was 3.29 crore, of which 86.45 lakh (26.2%) were tribals. 'Out of these, nearly 14 lakh (around 15%) identified themselves as Christians. The question is, how did so many tribals shift from their original Sarna faith to Christianity, and why is this trend continuing?" he said. He added that the upcoming caste census would reveal the actual figures of tribal conversion, and warned, 'When all tribals will become Christians, then where will Sarna survive?'
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta retained illegally only for executing crimes: Babulal Marandi
RANCHI: Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Friday questioned the state government's decision to retain DGP Anurag Gupta despite the expiry of his service period. Marandi claimed that the DGP, whose official tenure ended on April 20, poses a 'direct threat' to democratic norms and individual security by continuing to serve. Talking to the media persons at the BJP state headquarters in Ranchi, Marandi said, 'Despite the fact that the service period of DGP Anurag Gupta expired on April 30, Hemant Soren has been retaining him on his post only to execute crimes in the state. Who will be responsible if the DGP kills someone as he could not be suspended as his service period has already expired.' Marandi further stated that he feared that he might get killed by someone sent by the DGP. 'Even I am afraid of making visits in the state…. who knows, I may also be attacked by someone sent by the DGP. Who will be responsible for it,' said Marandi. It is really surprising that despite the service period of DGP has ended, he has been retained on the post; such instance has never been witnessed any of the states in the country, he added. Marandi also accused the state government of shielding the DGP, despite the Centre's refusal to extend his term.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Marandi criticises Cong over ‘Samvidhan Bachao Yatra'
Ranchi: The leader of the opposition in the assembly Babulal Marandi on Sunday criticised Congress over the party's " Samvidhan Bachao Yatra " scheduled to take place in the city on Tuesday. Senior Congress leaders, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary K C Venugopal, are expected to attend the yatra. Marandi criticised Congress claiming that the party has attacked the dignity of the Constitution and democracy to such an extent that it would be recorded as a dark chapter in the country's history. "Congress altered the very spirit of the Constitution just to stay in power and made every possible attempt to kill democracy. During its 60 years of rule, Congress amended the Constitution 79 times — only for appeasement and power. The first constitutional amendment was the first attack on freedom of expression, carried out by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru so that action could be taken against those who criticised the govt. This amendment curtailed Article 19(1) (a) and limited press freedom," Marandi claimed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo The BJP leader also said Congress amended the Constitution 25 times between 1966 and 1977 and criticised former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for interfering with the judiciary in 1973. "Gandhi, on April 25, 1973, bypassed the three most senior judges and appointed Justice A N Ray as the Chief Justice of India. This decision was an attempt to pressure the judiciary by promoting a judge," he claimed. Marandi further said it was a matter of shame that the party which has compromised with the Constitution time and again would be organizing a rally to "save" the Constitution. Referring to Congress's protests held across the country in front of ED offices, Marandi said the party members threatened officials of the central agency, established through provisions of the Constitution. "Leaders of Congress and JMM openly made statements suggesting that the Sharia law is above the Constitution. This directly questioned the supremacy of the Constitution. The violent protests against the Waqf Act and Congress's support of them are clear examples of this. In the Jharkhand DGP appointment controversy, too, political interference overrode the Constitution in administrative appointments of the state," the BJP state president added.
