Hemant attacks BJP in his first pre-poll rally in Bengal
Item
Title
Hemant attacks BJP in his first pre-poll rally in Bengal
Description
RANCHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren trained guns at BJP and its government at the Centre in his maiden pre-poll rally in West Bengal on Thursday. Addressing a gathering of a few thousand tribal audience, who came from Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts at the Uttarayan Club ground in Jhargram’s Jamda, Soren spoke in Santhali and called for a fight against the saffron brigade, which is vying for power in West Bengal. “The tribals, minorities and backward communities are being crushed. The way new laws are being formulated, it will become tough for the poor to survive,” Soren said. Lending solidarity with the farmers who are protesting in New Delhi to demand total repeal of the Centre’s controversial farm laws, Soren said there seems to be no place for farmers in India. “India is a country of farmers. Our ancestors coined the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan. And look at what is happening with the farmers now,” he said. Soren claimed that the BJP is trying to win elections on its financial muscle. “It is because of the money that they are trying to change the land acquisition laws, farm laws and trying to sell the nation’s assets,” Soren said. Recalling his father Shibu’s struggle against money lenders and for tribal rights later on, Soren said: “When Guruji dreamt of a separate state for tribals, every one laughed at him.” Soren, the working president of JMM, told the audience that the party will rekindle the old workers from the 1970s so that they can fight for the rights of the tribal population of Jhargram. While JMM leadership had predicted a heavy turnout, Thursday’s gathering did not surpass a few thousand. Unfazed by the low turnout, Soren said: “We do not care about crowds but believe in filling up a pitcher with drops.” JMM had contested in 27 seats in the 2016 West Bengal assembly polls, the party said. Besides Soren, state transport minister Champai Soren was also present at the rally.
Publisher
The Times of India
Date
2021-01-29
Coverage
Ranchi