#Hemant Soren BJP criticism

[townpostin]

JMM Stages 'Jharkhand Adhikar March' Across State

CM Soren criticizes BJP, vows ‘fitting response’ to alleged conspiracy Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers held protests statewide against central government policies. RANCHI – The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) organized a ‘Jharkhand Adhikar March’ across the state on Friday, protesting policies of the BJP-led central government. Demonstrations took place in all districts of Jharkhand. JMM leaders…

[hindustanmorning]

Hemant Soren criticized in rally over BJP's Bangladesh agreement

The Jharkhand Election campaign is currently at its highest point. The manifesto of BJP was launched earlier today. In contrast, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has responded to BJP’s manifesto. Speaking at a rally, he stated that both the UCC and ARC would not be enforced in Jharkhand. Only the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act will be in effect here. Members of the BJP…

[alwaysfirst]

Jharkhand: Police arrest second accused in Dumka killing case

Aug 29, 2022 18:16 IST Dumka (Jharkhand) , August 29 (AF): The Jharkhand police on Monday arrested the second accused in the Ankita murder case and sent him to jail. "Naeem alias Chhotu Khan, the second accused in the Ankita murder case, has been arrested. After presenting the accused in Dumka court, he was sent to jail," Dumka SP Amber Lakra confirmed. Ankita Singh succumbed to injuries after being set ablaze by a boy for allegedly turning down his proposal and was cremated on Monday morning. Accused Shahrukh was arrested earlier on August 23. People protested after the Class 12 girl was set ablaze by Shahrukh in Dumka.

She succumbed to her burn injuries yesterday. Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Dumka which prohibits the gathering of four or more people in the concerned area. "The accused Shahrukh has been arrested. We'll apply at fast track court for a fast trial. People are cooperating with us. We appeal to people to maintain peace. The situation is under control and Sec 144 has been imposed," said Ambar Lakda. Accused Shahrukh poured petrol on her and set her ablaze on August 23. She was set on fire in a case of unrequited love. A student of class 12, Ankita Kumari had been first admitted to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in critical condition. Later she was referred to Ranchi's Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for better treatment. The accused had allegedly poured petrol on the woman through the window of her home when she was asleep and set her on fire.

Lashing out at the government over this incident, former Chief Minister of the State, Raghubar Das said, "It is very shameful for Jharkkhand the way that boy entered the girl's house, poured petrol and set her ablaze. There have been thousands of crimes against women in Jharkhand after Hemant Soren became Chief Minister. There are love jihad cases also among the tribal population. The people from Bangladesh are entering and marrying innocent tribal girls and usurping their land."

Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said, "Such people should not be forgiven, but should be given the strictest of punishments. Laws should be brought in to further strengthen the existing laws for such incidents." Union minister Arjun Munda questioned the state administration for the death of the girl. He said, "Who is responsible for such incidents? Were appropriate measures taken to save the victim or not? If the victim dies, how will the guilty be punished? The state government should answer on all these subjects and to maintain the confidence of the public, the government should give a statement that what is the law and order situation for these incidents which are happening in Jharkhand."

The last rites of the victim took place today morning. BJP MP from Dumka Sunil Soren, Deputy Development Commissioner Karna Satyarthi, DSP Vijay Kumar and many administrative officials, activists and common people of various Hindu organizations participated in the funeral procession. (AF) Read the full article

[thewrosper]

States want longer lockdown, want clarity on movement of workers

West Bengal accused the Centre of sending mixed signals with the relaxation of some curbs, while Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, facing the prospect of hundreds of migrant labourers returning, asked it to specify guidelines in this regard. Most states on Monday indicated at the videoconference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they wanted the lockdown to continue in some form post-May 3, while adding that they would follow the Centre’s lead on the matter. West Bengal accused the Centre of sending mixed signals with the relaxation of some curbs, while Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, facing the prospect of hundreds of migrant labourers returning, asked it to specify guidelines in this regard. The PM, one Chief Minister said, did not respond to demands for an economic package. “The mood was in favour of continuing the lockdown with concessions,” Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy said, while telling The Indian Express that Modi praised Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for his handling of the coronavirus issue. Again, Andhra Pradesh was among the few states to seek relaxation. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said that with 80% of the state a virus-free “green zone”, this may be considered. However, Jagan did not say if the state would lift restrictions after May 3. In a televised address later in the day, the CM said that with a vaccine not likely for a year, developing herd immunity was the only option.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the interaction with Chief Ministers. (Twitter/PIB) Maharashtra, the state with the most coronavirus numbers, indicated that it could continue the lockdown. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar sought directions on the issue of its students stuck in Kota and other places, as well as on migrant labourers, while leaving a decision on extension of the lockdown to the Centre. Facing flak for not bringing back students from Kota, he said unless there was a direction from the Centre, it amounted to violation of the curbs. On whether the lockdown should go on after May 3, Nitish said, “Experts should be consulted. Bihar will abide by whatever decision the Centre takes.” It also expressed concern over people returning to the state without screening. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik sought framing of a national SOP for movement of people stranded across the country. The state estimates that over five lakh of its workers are stranded in different parts of the country. Narayanasamy, who raised the issue of students stuck abroad, said the PM made a “passing remark” saying the migrant labour issue has to be considered, but did not offer any solution.

 Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, facing the prospect of hundreds of migrant labourers returning, asked it to specify guidelines in this regard. (Express File Photo) “The Chief Ministers were unanimous in telling the PM that the way in which the coronavirus cases are increasing, there should be a cautious approach and the PM has to take a call on the basis of observations by CMs. Most of the BJP-ruled CMs said the lockdown should continue and economic activity should be slowly started,” he said. Narayanasamy said he was among the CMs who sought an economic package, as well as the states’ share of GST revenues. “The PM did not respond to that directly. He praised state governments for doing a Herculean task… He praised the Rajasthan CM for his handling of the coronavirus issue,” the CM said. According to him, the PM said, “Every state has some party in power, which realises that it has a chance to take the country forward. Hamein reform bhi karna hai. Agar reform karne ki disha mein rajya initiative leta hai, aap dekhiye yeh sankat ko hum bohot bade avsar main palat sakte hain. Main Ashok Gehlotji ko badhai dunga. Unhone kai initiative liye. Unhone labour ke liye samay seema ki bi badotri ki hai. Theek hai alochana thodi hue hogi, lekin Rajasthan ne disha dikhayi hai (We have to carry out reforms. If a state takes an initiative for reform, we can turn this crisis into a big opportunity. I want to congratulate Ashok Gehlot. He has taken many initiatives. He has increased the time limit for labourers as well. There must have some criticism, but Rajasthan has shown the way).” The Prime Minister was apparently referring to the Rajasthan government’s decision to increase working time in factories from 8 hours to 12 hours. Naryanasamy also said there should no general policy regarding opening of shops with states given the freedom to decide on this. Accusing the Centre of making contradictory statements, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wanted greater clarity on the Home Ministry order regarding this. “We are in favour of the lockdown. But the Centre on one hand emphasises on this, and on other hand, issues orders to open shops. If you open shops, how will you enforce the lockdown?” Banerjee said. She added that the state would plan up to May 21. “From the Prime Minister’s speech, it was clear that this will continue for long.” Fighting a surge in numbers and a high fatality rate, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani called for a “phased” lifting of the lockdown, “citing the interests of small and medium entrepreneurs and labourers”. He said at the video-conference that most of the deaths in the state were due to co-morbidities. Having directed opening of single-unit shops except in containment zones on Saturday, Gujarat has revoked the order for Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat. Rupani said he had received representations from shopkeepers saying they preferred staying closed till May 3, while adding that the state would go by what the Centre decides. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath did not give any indication of the state’s plan, even as he ordered officials on Monday to create facilities to quarantine about 10-15 lakh people. Significantly, it also arranged to bring home about 10,000 students from different districts of the state stuck in Prayagraj. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, however, said the state was in no position to bring back its students or labourers. “We Jharkhandis are being punished for following the Central government orders… We have been saying that we want to bring (stranded students, labourers) back. But the MHA issued orders that ban inter-state travel till May 3… Other states are flouting the orders and we have been left helpless,” Soren said at a press conference. He added that the state won’t open shops as yet, but would follow the Cente’s decision on lifting the lockdown. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar urged the government to remove the uncertainty around dates of competitive examinations. Punjab sought the Centre’s permission for reopening of small shops, businesses and industries in all areas except containment zones. CM Amarinder Singh also wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, as he was not among the nine CMs to speak at the video-conference, where he mentioned the state’s financial health. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said the state had told the Centre that the lockdown can continue partially till May 15, advising “a cautious approach” on lifting restrictions. “Considering the peculiar situation in Kerala, partial lockdown can be continued until May 15. The course after May 15 can be decided reviewing the then situation,” the CM said. Tamil Nadu CM K Palaniswami sought more RT-PCR kits for the state to take testing up from 10,000 a day from 7,500. Its stand on extension of the lockdown curbs, however, was unclear. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said the lockdown in the state will continue post May 3 with relaxation in non-COVID-19 districts. Meghalaya has 11 active positive cases. Sangma also suggested an “Economic Task Force” including all states to suggest solutions to initiate economic activities. “There is an economic state-to-state dependence. The establishment of an economic task force will help states,” he said. Madhya Pradesh said it would wait for the Centre’s guidelines to decide its post-May 3 plan, while Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao said the lockdown should be extended if necessary as it was the only weapon against the virus. (with inputs from Kolkata, Ranchi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Bhopal, Mumbai) Read the full article

[bigyack-com]

Jharkhand Assembly Election 2019: Hemant Soren’s fate to be decided on final day of polls - assembly elections

The fate of former chief minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren and two state ministers will be decided in the fifth and final phase of polling in Jharkhand for 16 assembly seats on Friday.Soren, the chief ministerial candidate of the opposition JMM-Congress-RJD alliance is contesting from two seats Dumka and Barhait which will go to polls on Friday.In Dumka, Soren is facing a tough fight from Woman and Child Welfare minister Louis Marandi of the BJP and in Barhait his main opponent is Simon Malto of the saffron party.Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Randhir Singh of BJP is contesting from Sarath seat which will also go to the polls in the fifth and final phase.Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey on Thursday said that all measures are in place as the fifth and final phase polling in 16 constituencies on Friday.An electorate of 40,05,287 electorate, including 19,55,336 female and 30 third gender voters, are eligible to choose from a total 237 candidates, including 29 women nominees, across the 16 seats, the CEO said.The polling will begin at 7 am in all the constituencies with the exercise ending at 3 pm in Borio, Barhait, Litipara, Maheshpur and Sikaripara and voting will continue till 5 pm in the rest of the constituencies.Like the previous four-phase polling there have been left-wing extremism (LWE) pockets, the final phase also have certain Naxal pockets, the CEO said.“There are some LWE affected areas and accordingly all measures have been taken. Eight polling stations have been re-located, 396 polling stations in Naxal-affected areas are marked as critical and 208 polling stations are marked as sensitive,” Choubey told a press conference here.Considering previous records of caste or communal tensions, 1,321 polling stations in non-LWE affected areas are critical while 1,765 polling stations are sensitive, he added.Polling personnel of 28 polling stations have been air-dropped while polling personnel of 124 polling stations will leave the area for their respective district headquarters on Saturday to enable standard operating procedure, he said.Satellite phones and other facilities have been made in 84 shadow areas, he said.The CEO said Central forces and Jharkhand armed forces and webcasting facilities in 1,347 polling stations are part of measures to conduct smooth and fair elections.In this round of elections, the Election Commission has set up 8,987 ballot units, 6,738 control units and 7,006 VVPAT machines, he said.Altogether 249 polling stations have been marked as model booths, 133 polling stations will be conducted by women personnel and 1,347 have webcasting facilities, Choubey said.The seats going for the final leg voting are Rajmahal, Borio (ST), Barhait (ST), Litipara (ST), Pakur, Maheshpur (ST), Sikaripara (ST), Nalla, Jamtara, Dumka (ST), Jama (ST), Jarmundi, Sarath, Poreyahat, Godda and Mahagama across six districts in the Santhal Pargana region of the state.Elections have already been held in 65 out of total 81 Assembly constituencies in the previous four phases between November 30 and December 16.Counting of votes is scheduled on December 23. Read the full article

[u4u-voice]

It's a fight between 3Gs of Congress and BJP: Amit Shah

DHANBAD: BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday claimed that this Lok Sabha election is a fight between '3 Gs' of the Congress represented by the Gandhi family and those of the saffron party exemplified by gaon, goumata and the Ganga. Claiming that there is a wave in favour of the prime minister across the country, Shah also sought to compare between a 'workaholic' Narendra Modi and a 'vacation loving' Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. He also alleged that the opposition parties are not interested in the security of the country for the sake of votebank politics. Both the Congress and the BJP have three Gs, he said. "For the Congress, 3G stands for Sonia (Gandhi), Rahul (Gandhi) and Priyanka (Gandhi). The BJP's 3G are gaon (villages), goumata (cow) and the Ganga," Shah said and asked the people to choose the correct 3G. He said he has visited for poll campaigns almost all the states where people have different tastes and culture, but "what is common everywhere is the chant in favour of Modi". "On the one hand, you have Modi who did not take a single leave in 20 years. On the other, you have Rahul Gandhi who goes on long vacations to places, leaving his mother worried about his whereabouts," he said in rallies in Dhanbad and Jamshedpur. Shah claimed that Gandhi goes on vacations as soon as the temperature starts soaring during summer. "This (opposition) alliance had kept the country's security at stake for their vote bank. For us vote bank is not important. Elections will come and go, but security of the country is the top most priority for us," he said. Bullets of terrorists will be responded with bombs, Shah saidBJP. "What the Modi-led government did for the welfare of the poor in five years, the Congress could not achieve it in 55 years," he claimed. Describinbg infiltrators as termites, the BJP leader said while the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will drive out intruders, the Congress seeks to raise the issue of human rights. The BJP president said, "I would like to ask them when innocent jawans were killed and their families suffered, where was their concern?" "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kolkata to Kuch, we will identify infiltrators and throw them out of country, the BJP president leader said. At the time of terror strikes and beheading of Indian soldiers during the 10-year rule of the Congress-led UPA, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh did not say anything, he alleged. "But after the massacre of 40 of our jawans at Pulwama by Pakistani terrorists, our Air Force struck terror camps in Balakot at a time when Pakistan amassed soldiers and tanks on the border," he said. Criticizing Gandhi and JMM working president Hemant Soren for their support to Omar Abdullah, Shah said the National Conference leader had spoken about a separate prime minister for Kashmir. "Should there be two prime ministers in one country?" Shah asked and the crowd roared back: "No". "Article 370 will be scrapped. Modi will definitely come to power again. but in case the BJP is not in power, every BJP worker will see to it that Kashmir remains an integral part of the country," Shah said. The Congress promised abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in its poll manifesto. The Article grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament's power to make laws concerning the state. Talking about the NDA dispensation's development initiatives in Jharkhand, the BJP boss said it opened medical colleges in Hazaribag and Dumka, set up a cancer hospital in Ranchi and launched a 4000MW power plant at Patratu. "In the 13th Finance Commission, the UPA government had allotted Rs 55,253 crore for Jharkhand. The Modi government has given over 3 lakh crore to the state in five years," he added. Shah said that Modi opened Sindri Fertilizer Factory in Sindri, converted India School of Mines to an IIT and gave Binod Bihari Mahto Koyalanchal University in Dhanbad. Read the full article

[yeskraim]

How India uses colonial-era sedition law against CAA protesters

New Delhi, India – In the first week of the new year, police in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand registered a criminal complaint against more than 3,000 people protesting against a new citizenship law, accusing them of “sedition” among other charges.

India has seen nationwide protests since mid-December following the passage of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that activists and opposition politicians have described as divisive, discriminatory and against the country’s secular constitution. The new law is being challenged in the Supreme Court.

More:

In Jharkhand, a tribal assertion met with fierce police crackdown

Microsoft CEO Nadella criticises India’s citizenship law

UN report condemns Kashmir’s Public Safety Act

The sedition provision, which was drafted by the British colonial rulers in 1870, comes under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.

Rights activists say the law has been used to suppress dissent in India particularly against marginalised communities and minorities.

Nationwide protests are taking place across India since December 13 against CAA [Javed Sultan/Anadolu]

Over the past 18 months, more than 10,000 tribal farmers in mineral-rich Jharkhand state were accused of sedition in 19 police cases for opposing acquisition of lands for so-called developmental projects.

Law is not meant to suppress people’s voice, but to create a sense of security among the people.

Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand state

Following criticism, Jharkhand’s newly elected Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the withdrawal of sedition charges slapped by his predecessor belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Soren told Al Jazeera that he had asked for an inquiry into why the police used the charge against those who peacefully demonstrated in Wasseypur – a working-class Muslim neighbourhood in Dhanbad district, which was the subject of the 2012 Bollywood hit Gangs of Wasseypur.

“Charge of sedition is a serious allegation which needs to be applied with careful scrutiny. In this case, we have asked the officials to drop the charges and provide an explanation.”

“Law is not meant to suppress people’s voice, but to create a sense of security among the people. My government will respect law and protect people,” said Soren, who comes from the Santhal tribal community.

Soren government has also dropped charges against more than 10,000 Adivasis slapped by the previous BJP government.

Attack on dissent

The sedition provision punishes anyone seen to “excite, or attempt to excite feelings of disaffection against the government”, even though this may be by their words alone. It is a non-bailable offence, and has life imprisonment as the maximum punishment.

Jawahar Raja, a lawyer based in New Delhi, explained that once police add the sedition charge, the maximum quantum of punishment increases, and the courts then view it as a serious offence, making it harder for the accused to secure bail, even if booked only for a speech offence. “The process of a long-drawn trial then becomes the punishment,” said Raja.

Aloka Kujur was among the more than 10,000 slapped with sedition cases in Jharkhand. She says “the police booked her under sedition for a Facebook post in 2018”.

Kujur, who publishes magazines on literature and art, said the police issued a warrant to confiscate her property for her post that mentioned the threat to a rape victim.

“I faced threats online. The local newspapers started publishing official statements saying that anyone with Marxist and Maoist books will be arrested. I had to give away my small collection of books, as I was unsure what will the police misconstrue against me using this sedition charge,” she said.

Police continue to misuse the provision even though the Supreme Court in 2016 said criticising the government does not amount to sedition [File: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Kujur recounts how prosecution lawyers called her “anti-national” in the court during her trial.

In a similar case, an 83-year-old Jesuit priest, Stan Swamy, who has documented police abuse in tribal areas across the country, was charged with sedition in 2018 for his Facebook posts. One of his posts was a statement by the then home minister calling for dialogue.

Swamy declined to speak to Al Jazeera as he is facing police case in the western Maharashtra state. His associate Solomon said because of the sedition charge, the elderly activist was forced to stop writing on human rights abuses.

Our state governments are using colonial-era laws to suppress even peaceful dissent of our own people.

Sadaf Jafar, activist

Referring to the recent sedition cases, a senior Jharkhand police official admitted that the local police acted with excessive hostility against anti-CAA protesters.

“I cannot comment on use of sedition in previous cases against tribal farmers, but in this instance, the district police action shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of professional competence,” Anil Palta, additional director general of police (training), Jharkhand, told Al Jazeera.

“If a provision of prevention of assembly of more than four persons, Section 144 is violated, the protesters ought to have been booked under Section 188, for disobedience, a bailable order. It was very far-fetched of the district police to apply sedition charges.”

Harsh police action

The harsh police action against anti-CAA protesters particularly in BJP-ruled states has alarmed rights activists.

More than 20 people have been killed in India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh (UP) where some of the initial protests turned violent. Authorities in the state have also said they would seek compensation from protesters for damages to state properties.

Sadaf Jafar, a political activist, was arrested from Lucknow, the capital of UP during anti-CAA protests.

“The police arrested me and imprisoned me for 20 days, I was not allowed to inform anyone,” Jafar told Al Jazeera.

“We are supposed to be in an elected democracy, but our state governments are using colonial-era laws to suppress even peaceful dissent of our own people.” 

Jafar alleged she was tortured and called Pakistani in custody because of her Muslim name. “They beat me so much that three weeks later, my ankles are still swollen and blue, and my limbs hurt when I breathe.”

Repeated cases of sedition show the police have been brainwashed to act like colonial masters.

Solomon, activist

Al Jazeera reached out to the office of the director general of police of UP and the circle officer of the area where Jafar was held but received no response at the time of the publication of the article.

Last December, about 600 anti-CAA protesters were accused of sedition in UP but later police dropped the charge.

Across India, a number of people have been slapped with sedition charges for protesting against the law that people say is part of Modi’s Hindu supremacist agenda as it makes faith as the basis for citizenship.

In the BJP-ruled Karnataka state, police invoked sedition case against a student for holding a “Free Kashmir” placard on January 9.

Last August, the Hindu nationalist government stripped Indian-administered Kashmir of its special status and imposed a crippling communications and security lockdown in the Muslim-majority region.

Subsequently, thousands of Kashmiris, including minors, were thrown into jails under Public Safety Act (PSA), which Amnesty International has dubbed “lawless law”. Under PSA people can be imprisoned for up to two years without trial.

Between 2016 and 2018, the National Crime Records Bureau data shows, 332 people were arrested under the sedition provision, but only seven were convicted.

Lawyers point out that the problem is not the conviction, but opposition to the government is termed “anti-national”, making it easier for the police to make arrests citing any protests as a threat to national security.

Governments exploit legal loopholes

Legal scholars pointed out that the police continue to misuse the provision even though the Supreme Court in 2016 reiterated that criticising the government does not amount to sedition, or even to defamation.

“Though the court upheld the Section 124A of sedition to be constitutional, it has watered down the provision,” said Chitranshul Mishra, a Supreme Court lawyer and author of The Great Repression – The Story of Sedition in India.

He added that the Supreme Court said only an action that incites or has the “tendency” to incite violence or public disorder can be construed as seditious. “But the definitions of ‘tendency’, ‘public disorder’ have been left open so wide to interpretation that the police routinely use it to suppress dissent,” he explained.

Gautam Bhatia, a lawyer and scholar, said colonial-era laws that criminalised any opposition has no place in a democracy.

In his book Offend, Shock or Disturb: Free Speech Under the Indian Constitution, Bhatia has documented how during India’s independence movement, the British colonial government had accused Indian nationalist leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, and cultural activists under the same section for their writings, speeches, and theatre plays.

“The sheer breadth of its language allows it to be misused,” said Bhatia.

“The police book thousands as ‘unnamed’ claiming they will add the names as they get further evidence, and as the case proceeds they are allowed to file supplementary charge-sheets in which they, for instance, can add names of any farmers from a village or a demonstrator or a political organiser, thus keeping a sword dangling over their heads to chill dissent.”

Modi, who has been accused of turning authoritarian, has plans to overhaul the Indian Penal Code, most of which draws from the British colonial laws. But it has caused concern among activists as the right-wing government may further add stringent provisions in the law.

It recently amended the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to empower the government to declare individuals “terrorists” and seize their properties.

Rights activists fear the law can be misused – a charge the government has denied.

Solomon, the Jharkhand activist, told Al Jazeera: “Repeated cases of sedition show the police have been brainwashed to act like colonial masters.”

“The result is that the most vulnerable communities suffer.”

Read More

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party lost control of another state on Monday, adding to a string of electoral losses since last December amid protests that mark the biggest challenge to the Hindu-nationalist leader.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conceded defeat in Jharkhand, with an alliance of the main opposition Congress party and a regional bloc slated to take control of the resource-rich province.

“I dedicate this victory to the people of Jharkhand,” Hemant Soren, leader of the regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party, said after claiming victory.

The loss comes in the middle of a sometimes deadly wave of nationwide protests triggered by a new citizenship law, which critics say discriminates against Muslims and has brought thousands of people out on to the streets in opposition.

The polls in Jharkhand opened on Nov. 30, before the demonstrations kicked off and do not represent the current public mood. However, the BJP’s defeat will be a shot in the arm for India’s opposition parties, some of which have used popular anger against the Citizenship Amendment Act to their advantage.

But groups opposed to the law gathered in the southern cities of Bangalore and Chennai, the capital New Delhi and north eastern Assam state, in the latest demonstrations against the CAA and the Modi government’s proposal to conduct a nationwide National Register of Citizens.

In Assam, protests have been held since Dec. 10, initially turning violent but largely peaceful over the past week.

Assam’s finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, told reporters that since Dec. 10, 393 people have been arrested for arson, violence and looting and 10 for “inflammatory” social media posts.

The post BJP loses state election amid protests over citizenship law appeared first on ARY NEWS.

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[wionews]

Receiving widespread support: KCR on third front idea

After announcing his national political ambition, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Sunday said his idea of non-Congress and non-Bharatiya Janata Party front was finding resonance among many regional leaders.

"Since morning, I have been receiving many calls from various places in India. Today afternoon, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called me and said that I have taken the right decision and she will be supporting me," Chief Minister Rao said while addressing a huge crowd at his official residence, Pragati Bhavan, in Telangana.

"Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren also called, telling me that he is standing behind me. Soren also told me that he is trying to speak with many other people in India and will meet up soon and speak on the issue," said Rao.

He also said that numerous MPs have called him and assured him of their support.

Meanwhile, Rao criticised Congress and BJP, saying that both the parties have "miserably failed in governance".

"We see farmers` suicides, why is this happening even after 70 years of independence?" Rao asked.

He further accused the national parties of dividing the country and its people on caste, religion and political lines.Claiming that nothing has changed during the governance of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, Rao said some sectors should be handed over to the states.

"Medical, education, agriculture, and urban development should be handed over to state governments, but they aren`t doing so, while the Central government is keeping all these departments in their hands," said the Telangana Chief Minister.

On Saturday, after chairing the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) parliamentary board meeting, KCR announced his ambition to participate in the national politics to initiate a change in the political fabric of the country, following the "miserable failure" of the current system.

"I am keen to participate in national politics to change the political fabric of the country as the current political system has miserably failed. There is a serious need for qualitative change in the national politics, as no change has been seen by the people even after 70 years of exercise of democracy," he said.

Thereafter, West Bengal`s Banerjee, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, two MPs from Maharashtra, and representatives from other political parties called KCR to express their support for his vision.

However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not take the criticism lying down and its Telangana unit alleged that KCR had "failed miserably" in the governance of Telangana, adding that the decision to unite with other parties was because of not being able to fight the BJP alone. 

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[townpostin]

JMM Leaders Mark Hul Divas with Strong Political Statements

Hemant Soren Alleges Centre’s Conspiracy, Vows to Protect State Resources Former and current CMs highlight development initiatives at Sidho-Kanhu memorial event. RANCHI – Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren used the Hul Divas commemoration at Bhognadih to launch a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of undermining the state’s governance. "The centre’s attempts…

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Soren Likens BJP Leaders to "Political Vultures" Pre-Election

CM criticizes opposition for divisive tactics at Giridih district event Key Points: • Hemant Soren accuses BJP of misleading masses on religious and caste lines • CM alleges obstacles in scheme implementation by opposition • Soren highlights government’s efforts in employee welfare and development RANCHI – Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has launched a scathing attack on BJP leaders,…

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Jamshedpur BJYM Protests Deaths in Excise Constable Recruitment

Torch rally in Jamshedpur condemns Hemant government’s policies after 12 candidates die during physical test BJP youth wing held a torch rally in Jamshedpur protesting the deaths of 12 candidates during the excise constable recruitment process. JAMSHEDPUR – Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) organized a torch rally in Jamshedpur to protest the deaths of 12 candidates during the excise constable…

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BJP's Election Committee Meeting Focuses on Soren Government's Failures

Assam CM Sarma criticizes Jharkhand government over youth deaths in recruitment process. Jharkhand BJP’s election committee met at the party office, with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in attendance. RANCHI – Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the BJP’s election committee meeting in Jharkhand, where he heavily criticized the Hemant Soren government. Sarma highlighted the deaths of 12 youths…

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Bangladeshi Infiltration Taking Over Jharkhand: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Central Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticizes Jharkhand government, accuses it of harboring Bangladeshi infiltrators. Central Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lashed out at the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand, accusing it of turning the state into a haven for Bangladeshi infiltrators. JAMSHEDPUR – Speaking at an event in Bokaro, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed…

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BJP Slams FIR Against Rally Participants in Jharkhand

Shiv Shankar Singh accuses Hemant government of suppressing youth voices BJP leader Shiv Shankar Singh strongly condemns FIR filed against party members and supporters after Yuva Aakrosh Rally. JAMSHEDPUR – BJP leader Shiv Shankar Singh has vehemently criticized the Jharkhand government for filing an FIR against 42 named individuals and 12,000 unknown participants of the recent Yuva Akrosh…

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Jharkhand CM Promises ₹1 Lakh Annual Aid to Families if Re-elected

Soren transfers funds to women under JMMSY scheme, slams BJP for ‘divisive politics’ Hemant Soren pledges ₹1 lakh annual financial assistance to families if his government is re-elected in Jharkhand. RANCHI – CM Hemant Soren announced ₹1 lakh annual aid for families if re-elected, while criticizing BJP at a Hazaribagh event. At a public function in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant…