Page 17 - Hemant Soren

Have sought copy from EC of guv's request for second opinion: Soren

Amid a deepening political crisis in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren Sunday said he has sought a copy from the Election Commission of Governor Ramesh Bais's request for a "second opinion" in a office-of-profit case through his counsel. The request comes in the wake of Bais saying on October 27 that he has sought a "second opinion" in the case and claiming that an "atom bomb could explode any time in Jharkhand", apparently indicating towards his pending decision in the matter. "I have sought a copy from EC of Governor Ramesh Bais's request for second opinion in office-of-profit case through my counsel," Soren told PTI. "The counsel has placed on my behalf that the EC will provide an opportunity for fair and effective hearing before giving any opinion pursuant to the second request made by the governor," he said. Following a petition by the BJP seeking Soren's disqualification from the Assembly in the office-of-profit case, the EC had sent its decision to the Jharkhand governo

Arrest me if I have committed serious offence: Jharkhand CM on ED summons

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday termed the Enforcement Directorate's summons to him as a weapon used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to target him and said if he has committed a serious offence then he should be directly arrested. Soren on Thursday skipped summons issued by the ED to face questioning in connection with a case of alleged illegal mining and arrived in Chhattisgarh to attend a pre-scheduled programme. The central agency had asked the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader to appear for questioning at its regional office in Ranchi. Speaking to reporters at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, the Jharkhand Chief Minister accused the BJP, which is in the Opposition in the eastern state, of hatching a conspiracy against him as his government is taking pro-people measures. Soren is here to attend the concluding ceremony of the three-day National Tribal Dance Festival and Chhattisgarh's statehood celebration event called 'Rajyotsava 2022'. Queried ..

Jharkhand CM skips ED summons, going to Chhattisgarh to attend tribal event

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday skipped summons issued by the Enforce Directorate to face questioning in connection with a case of alleged illegal mining, and is going to Chhattisgarh to attend a tribal programme instead. The ED had asked Soren to appear for questioning at its regional office here at 11 am but he did not go there. "The ED has summoned me following a conspiracy. Come and arrest me if I have committed a crime instead of sending a summons for questioning. I am neither afraid nor worried. Rather I am emerging stronger. If people of Jharkhand wish, opponents will not find a place to hide," Soren said while addressing JMM workers near his residence. He said he will fly to Raipur to attend a Tribal Mahotsav' during the day, for which he had received an invitation. The JMM executive president alleged that the BJP is making attempts to destabilise his democratically elected government ever since it was voted to power.

J'khand: UPA to stage protest on Nov 5 against attempts to destablise govt

Hours after the ED summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for questioning in an alleged illegal mining case, members of the ruling UPA coalition decided to launch a state-wide protest against the "attempts to destabilise a democratically elected government". A two-hour meeting of the UPA -- comprising the JMM, the Congress and the RJD -- was held at the CM's residence here in the evening, shortly after the summons was served by the agency. JMM MLA Sudivya Kumar, following the meeting, said a decision to give a "befitting reply" to the BJP-led Centre, which is "hatching conspiracies using probe agencies", was taken by the leaders of the ruling alliance. "The UPA has decided to oppose BJP move... We will unmask the conspiracy hatched by the BJP, generate awareness among people about it," he said. "We will stage a protest on November 5 against these attempts to destabilise the government. I will tell people that efforts are being made to disrupt the outreach programmes launche

ED summons J'khand CM in money laundering case; asks to appear on Thursday

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for questioning on November 3 in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state, officials said on Wednesday. Soren, 47, has been asked to appear before the federal probe agency at its regional office in the Hinoo area of state capital Ranchi at 11 am on Thursday. The agency wants to question and record the statement of the chief minister under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. Soren hit out at the BJP, alleging it was resorting to ''misusing'' institutions as it cannot face him politically. "We have also been called on the request of our Opposition. An attempt has been made to show how powerful the ED is... the people will give them the answer for every conspiracy,'' the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader tweeted. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier arrested Soren's political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others -- local muscleman Bachhu Yadav and Prem ..

ED issues summons to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for questioning on November 3 in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state, officials said on Wednesday. Soren, 47, has been asked to appear before the federal probe agency at its regional office in state capital Ranchi on Thursday. The agency wants to question and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. The ED had earlier arrested his political aide Pankaj Mishra and two others in this case. The agency has said it has "identified" proceeds of crimes relating to illegal mining in the state to the tune of more than Rs 1,000 crore till now. The ED probe began after the agency raided Mishra and his alleged associates on July 8, covering 19 locations in Sahibganj, Barhait, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand in the case linked to alleged instances of illegal mining and extortion.

Chhath celebrated with fervour in Jharkhand, CM offers prayers in Ranchi

The four-day Chhath festival concluded in Jharkhand on Monday morning after the offering of 'Usha Arghya'. A sea of humanity thronged various water bodies across the state to pay obeisance to the rising sun. Amid playing of devotional songs and bursting of firecrackers, devotees marched towards rivers, rivulets, lakes and ponds where they performed the rituals. Apart from common people, politicians also congregated at different water bodies to offer 'Arghya' to the Sun God. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with his wife Kalpana and two sons, offered prayers at Ranchi's Hatnia pond on Sunday evening, while his predecessor Raghubar Das prayed at Suryadham in Jamshedpur. Former chief minister Babulal Marandi also offered prayers. "Chhath Puja is the worship of nature god. It is a great example of dedication, faith and cleanliness. I bow my head to this great tradition. I pray to Chhathi Maiya to bless everyone with happiness and good health," Soren said. This year, water level i

Jharkhand CM allows graft charges probe against govt staffers, contractors

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has approved a proposal to register a case against 29 people, including government employees, in connection with alleged irregularities in the drinking water and sanitation department, an official said on Wednesday. The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) will register an FIR against the accused state government employees and contractors, he said. "The chief minister has permitted Anti Corruption Bureau, Ranchi to conduct a probe by registering an FIR against 29 public servants and others involved in the corruption," the official said. The alleged irregularities were related to installation of tube wells in the 2010-11 and 2013-14 financial years in panchayats of Govindpur and Nirsa blocks under the Dhanbad district besides other schemes of the drinking water and sanitation department", he said. Several engineers, an officer of accounts, and many contractors were accused of being involved in the corruption. An FIR has already been registered by the .

No end in sight to tug-of-war between Jharkhand Governor, Soren govt

The role of Syed Sibte Razi had sparked intense controversy in 2005 when he administered the oath of chief ministership to Shibu Soren, the leader of the UPA

Populist instincts: Jharkhand's march towards provincialism

Its new domicile policy will weaken the delicate mechanisms of federalism that allow any Indian citizen to seek employment anywhere in the country

CM Hemant Soren meets Jharkhand Guv, urges him to clear air on EC's stance

On September 5, Chief Minister Soren-led government proved its overwhelming majority on the floor of the assembly. The MLAs have expressed full loyalty and confidence to his leadership

Jharkhand raises reservations in govt jobs for SC, ST, others to 77%

The Jharkhand government on Wednesday gave its nod to a proposal for granting 77 per cent reservation in state government jobs for the members of the SC, ST, backward classes, OBC and economically weaker sections, an official said. The state cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, hiked the OBC reservation to 27 per cent from the present 14 per cent. The Hemant Soren-led UPA government on Wednesday also gave its nod to a proposal to use the 1932 land records to determine those who are local inhabitants. The decision was taken in the backdrop of tribals' demand that the last land survey conducted by the British government in 1932 be used as the basis for defining locals. The developments come amid a political crisis in Jharkhand over the threat to Chief Minister Hemant Soren of his disqualification as an MLA in an office-of-profit case. "The Cabinet has given nod to a reservation bill for amendment in Jharkhand Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services Ac

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren assures redressal of grievances in a month's time

Amid a political crisis in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has met and assured representatives from various organisations of redressing their "grievances" in a month's time. Soren, who could be disqualified as an MLA in an office-of-profit case, met teachers, health workers, policemen and students at his office here on Monday. "A large number of representatives from various organisations met the CM at his residence with their demands, including regularisation and pending salary. "The CM assured them that their demands will be looked into and redressed in a month's time," an official said. The state cabinet recently approved the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing the old pension scheme, which was discontinued on April 1, 2004 and replaced with the National Pension System (NPS). The government also restored compensatory leaves for the police force, benefitting lakhs of personnel, the official said. Meanwhile, Governor Ramesh Bais, who returned to Ranchi on .

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren seeks to keep his flock together

Governor Ramesh Bais has to take the final call on whether Soren has to be disqualified as member of the state Assembly and barred from contesting elections

State-run student hostels to have modern infrastructure: Jharkhand CM

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday promised modern infrastructure in students' hostels across the state, during a programme organised at Ranchi College on the occasion of Karma festival. He said that all hostels run by the welfare department in the state are being renovated to provide facilities on par with private ones. "It is our endeavour to provide multi-storey hostels equipped with modern infrastructure for students in cities like Ranchi, Dhanbad and Jamshedpur," the CM said. Urging people to protect their culture and tradition, Soren said nature worship is an intrinsic part of tribal culture. "It is a matter of pride for us that our ancestors have taught us nature worship," he said. Tribals have made the biggest contribution in protecting environment, he said, adding that the world today faces problems like global warming on account of not maintaining ecological balance. Karma festival, marking the period of harvest, was celebrated across Jharkhand with tradit

Jharkhand CM Soren wins confidence motion with 48 votes, BJP stages walkout

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday won the trust vote amid a threat of disqualification in an office of profit case

Attempts being made to destabilise elected govts: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday alleged that the BJP was attempting to destabilise democratically elected governments in states not ruled by it, as he tabled a confidence motion in the assembly. Soren also claimed that his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma indulged in purchase of Jharkhand MLAs. The saffron party is trying to destabilise democratically elected governments in non-BJP ruled states... The Assam CM had also attempted to purchase Jharkhand legislators, Soren said in the assembly, amid protests by opposition members, who trooped into the well of the House, shouting slogans. Soren alleged that the BJP was trying to create a civil war-like situation in the country by fueling riots to win elections. He had earlier in the day said in the assembly that opposition BJP's attempt to poach MLAs had prompted the move for a confidence motion.

CM Hemant Soren to seek trust vote today amid Jharkhand political crisis

Amidst the political uncertainty in the state, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will seek a trust vote in the special one-day Jharkhand Assembly Session on Monday

Tribulations of the tribal state

The BJP could come to power in Jharkhand by the back-door

Shocked over selective leaks by Raj Bhavan on Soren's fate as MLA: UPA team

A delegation of ruling UPA leaders in Jharkhand told Governor Ramesh Bais on Thursday that it was shocked over the "selective leaks made" from Raj Bhavan on Election Commission's recommendation, as speculation continued to be rife over Chief Minister Hemant Soren's disqualification as MLA. The delegation, in a representation to Bais, said such leaks created chaos and confusion. It also asked the governor to clear the air over the ECI recommendation in the matter. Earlier in the week, 32 MLAs of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand left for Raipur by a chartered flight from Ranchi in a bid to thwart possible poaching attempts by the BJP amid the deepening political crisis in the state over Soren's fate as an MLA. Four of them, however, returned on Wednedsay night to take part in a cabinet meeting. The delegation, during its visit to Raj Bhavan, also said that speculations on Soren's fate "encouraged political brinkmanship to destabilize the democratically elected government". It asse