Page 7 - Hemant Soren

Jharkhand CM writes to PM, says uncleared Rs 1.36 trn dues affecting state

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that coal companies did not clear the Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues despite the Supreme Court's order on mining dues, causing irreparable loss to the state and its people. He demanded a direct debit of the amount from Coal India's account to the state of Jharkhand from the reserves in the Reserve Bank of India as was done in case of Jharkhand State Electricity Board dues to the DVC. "In spite of provisions in the law and judicial pronouncements... Coal Companies are not making any payment... These questions have been raised at various forums, including your kind office, Finance Ministry and NITI Aayog. But till now this compensation (Rs 1.36 lakh crore) has not yet been paid. "The State of Jharkhand is an under-developed state and there are lots of social economic development projects which are getting hampered due to non-payment of our justifiable demands," Soren wrote in the letter to ...

Ex-CM Champai claims J'khand govt withdrew security vehicles, police deny

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, who joined the BJP last month, on Wednesday accused the Hemant Soren government in the state of putting his life at risk by withdrawing all security vehicles assigned to him. The former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader alleged that withdrawing his security vehicles was a political conspiracy. The state police, however, rejected the charge saying that five vehicles are still engaged with the security of the former chief minister who also enjoys the services of 63 police personnel. "The Jharkhand government withdrew all security vehicles assigned to me, putting my life at risk, under a political conspiracy. I am not afraid of this move. The people of Jharkhand would provide security to me," Champai Soren told PTI. He asserted that he never compromised with his values and people will give a befitting reply to the JMM-led coalition in the assembly polls due later this year. Asked about Chief Minister Hemant Soren's remarks that the BJP

Centre meted out injustice to J'khand; forces trying to grab power: Kalpana

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA Kalpana Soren on Wednesday launched a frontal attack on the Centre accusing it of meting out injustice to the state by extorting its mines and minerals at the expense of poor tribals. She also criticised the BJP "for going to any extent to grab power", warning that they would be ousted from the state. Soren challenged the saffron party to bring in chief ministers and leaders from other states to propagate their agenda, specifically mentioning Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "The Centre has always meted out injustice to Jharkhand. It eyes only its mines and minerals and indulges in resource extortion. It owes us a massive Rs 1.36 lakh crore for coal," she said during the 'Maiya Samman Yatra.' Soren highlighted that BJP leaders are actively campaigning in the state while the Centre covets its mineral wealth. "We will give a befitting reply to them," she added. She claimed that as elections approach,

Union minister Chirag Paswan slams J'khand CM Soren's 'vulture' remark

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Monday slammed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over his "vulture" remark and said the people would give him a befitting reply in upcoming assembly polls in the state. In an apparent reference to the BJP's ongoing Parivartan Yatras' (Rallies for change) in the state, Soren in a recent public address in Garhwa district had said that leaders from other states would be seen hovering like vultures." Assembly elections in the state are due later this year. "The people will reply to such language of the chief minister. People's verdict in upcoming polls will say everything," Paswan, also the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president, said. Paswan arrived in Jharkhand to address two public rallies in Latehar and Palamu districts on Monday in a bid to strengthen the party's base in the state ahead of the elections. Paswan said that he has several programmes lined up in Jharkhand regarding the assembly polls. "Whether the party will contest the electi

Why Hemant Soren hosts Jinnah's party leaders but dislikes Shah: Himanta

Launching a frontal attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday accused him of hosting Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML) leaders but "showing disdain" for BJP leaders including Amit Shah. A delegation of IUML comprising party MPs ET Mohammed Basheer, MP and Haris Beeran, besides MLA Mohammad Bashir, met Soren at his residence here during the day. A CMO statement said it was a "courtesy meeting". Sarma, who is also the BJP's co-incharge of assembly elections in Jharkhand that are scheduled later this year, took a jibe at Soren saying he has no hesitation in extending a warm welcome to a delegation of "Muslim League" founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah but has objection to BJP leaders coming to his state. The Jharkhand government had earlier this month urged the EC to ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah to issue an advisory to BJP leaders Sarma and Shivraj Singh Chouhan to desist from "instigating" communal tension in the state fo

Lawyers in Jharkhand to get Rs 5 lakh medical insurance. Know more

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday

J'khand CM Soren meets Kharge, Rahul, assembly poll preparation discussed

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi here and discussed the upcoming assembly polls. The meeting comes days after former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren joined the BJP after resigning from the JMM citing dissatisfaction with the party's current style of functioning and "bitter humiliation". Soren met Kharge and Gandhi at the Congress president's residence here. Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal and Soren's wife Kalpana Soren were also present during the meeting. Though Soren termed the meeting as a courtesy call, preparations for the assembly polls later this year were learnt to have been discussed. Champai Soren was appointed chief minister on February 2, following Hemant Soren's resignation and subsequent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. He left the post on July 3, clearing the way for Hemant Soren to resume offic

Recruitment drive deaths: J'khand halts physical tests, BJP to seek probe

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Monday said he has issued instructions to halt the excise constable recruitment drive for three days, even as his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted the BJP will urge the NHRC to probe into the deaths of some aspirants who appeared in the physical tests. Terming the deaths of the candidates as sad and heartbreaking, Soren said he has also asked for an immediate review of rules made by the previous government. The deaths have snowballed into a major controversy, with the BJP claiming that 15 candidates have so far lost their lives, while according to the Jharkhand Police, deaths of 12 aspirants have been reported thus far. The state's Health Minister Banna Gupta has put the figure at four. The physical tests for Jharkhand excise constable recruitment began on August 22 at seven centres in six districts, and was slated to continue till September 9. Soren also said a committee of health experts has been formed to ascertain the cause of

BJP counts on a Soren to woo tribal votes in Jharkhand Assembly polls

As Champai Soren's switching sides gives BJP leaders renewed hope ahead of Assembly polls, ruling party claims it will only consolidate Hemant's tribal support base, reports Aditi Phadnis

Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren joins BJP days after quitting JMM

Champai Soren joined the saffron camp during a ceremony in Ranchi, with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in attendance

Jharkhand Cabinet waives power dues of Rs 3,584 cr of 3.9 mn consumers

The Jharkhand government on Thursday said it has decided to waive Rs 3,584 crore in power dues for around 39.44 lakh consumers benefiting from the 200-unit free electricity scheme. The decision, approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, aims to relieve financial burdens on domestic consumers enrolled under the Mukhyamantri Urja Khushali Yojana. Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel confirmed that the waiver applies to arrears accumulated by these consumers. "Following this cabinet approval, these consumers will no longer need to pay the arrear bills," Dadel said. The cabinet also approved additional measures, including an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh and a government job for the families of Agniveer soldiers from Jharkhand who die during duty or military operations. Other decisions include extending the remuneration period for anganwadi poshan sakhis and cooks from 10 to 12 months, with Rs 31.71 crore allocated for this purpose. The cabinet also approve

Jharkhand govt ropes private docs to address shortage in govt hospitals

To address shortage of doctors in state-run hospitals, the Jharkhand government has decided to rope in private doctors to provide treatment in facilities where there is a lack of specialists. This was announced by the government during distribution of appointment letters to 365 community health officers (CHOs) by Chief Minister Hemant Soren here at a function on Thursday. "The government is continuously working to enhance health infrastructure in the state. We have undertaken several initiatives in this regard and are developing a system so that residents do not need to seek treatment in other states," the Chief Minister said. "To tackle the shortage of specialist doctors, particularly in community health centres and district hospitals, the government has decided to allow private doctors to provide treatment in these facilities. They will be offered incentives for their services," said state health secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh. The CM also highlighted the recent launch of schemes aim

Jharkhand govt to provide support to increase women's share in state police

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday said his government will provide all required support to increase the participation of women in state police up to 50 per cent in the coming days. Addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day state-level women police conference, he emphasised the need for framing a rule in a bid to promote women as in-charge of police stations. "Women are capable of contributing equally as men not only in the police department but in all aspects of society. We need to bridge the gap. I want women police personnel to progress in such a way that their participation increases up to 50 per cent from the existing 5-6 per cent in state police. The government will provide support for this," he said. Soren highlighted that when a woman who has been harassed visits a police station, her case diary is often written by a male officer. He questioned, "Why shouldn't it be handled by a woman officer?" He suggested that in environments predominantly occupied by .

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J'khand CM Soren accuses BJP of poaching MLAs amid Champai's likely switch

Amid speculation that JMM leader Champai Soren could join the BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday accused the saffron camp of "poaching" MLAs and "dividing society". Soren's statement came hours after JMM legislator and former chief minister Champai Soren reached Delhi. Addressing a government function in Jharkhand's Godda district, Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP brought people from Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra to "spread poison among the tribals, Dalits, backward classes and minorities and make them fight with each other". "Forget about society, these people work to break families and parties. They poach MLAs. Money is such a thing that it doesn't take long for politicians to move here and there," he said. Notably, Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday, amid speculations that he is likely to join the BJP, sources said. A close associate of Champai Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata. Soon after landing in

Recruitments on 35K posts to be completed by October: J'khand CM Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that recruitments on 35,000 posts will be completed by October this year. The CM was addressing the 78th Independence Day at Ranchi's Morabadi Ground. "Our government's first priority is to link youths of the state with employment," he said. The CM claimed that his government has made thousands of recruitments during its tenure. "The recruitment process is underway on 35,000 posts including excise constable, constable, assistant professor and women supervisors through Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, which will be completed by October 2024," he said. In a bid to boost employment opportunities in the state, memorandum of understandings (MoU) have been inked with five industrial units, which would draw investment of about Rs 4,000 crore and provide direct and indirect job opportunities to 6,000 people, he said. "More than two lakh young men and women have got employment in the private sector by taking advantage of the trai

JMM slams Centre over Jharkhand train accident, asks railways min to focus

The ruling JMM on Tuesday criticised the central government for the train accident in Jharkhand and took a jibe at the Centre and the BJP stating that Chief Minister Hemant Soren and INDIA bloc were not involved. In a social media post, JMM also urged the Centre to ask Railways Minister to stop making reels and pay attention to railways. "Hemant Soren Ji or INDIA Bloc has no hand in this. Do not give threats to get us trapped by ED/CBI," JMM said in the post on X. Tagging former chief minister and BJP state president Babulal Marandi, it said, "The entire responsibility for this (train accident) lies with your Railway Minister and the central government. Stop the Railway Minister from making reels and request him to focus on railways." Two persons were killed and 20 others injured as at least 18 coaches of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed in Seraikela-Kharsawan district early on Tuesday, officials said. The accident occurred at 3.45 AM near Barabamboo, around 80 km from Jamshedpur,

Money laundering case: SC rejects ED's plea challenging Jharkhand CM's bail

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate challenging a Jharkhand High Court order granting bail to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said the high court's June 28 order was "very well reasoned". "We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order," the bench said. Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had resigned as chief minister shortly before the ED arrested him on January 31 in the case. After coming out of jail on bail in the case, he returned as the chief minister of Jharkhand on July 4. Opposing Soren's bail plea in the high court, the ED had alleged that he misused his position as the chief minister to "unlawfully" acquire 8.86 acres of land in the Bargain area in the state capital Ranchi. Soren's lawyer had contended that he was falsely implicated in the criminal case by the central agency. Th

SC to hear ED plea challenging HC's order for Hemant Soren's bail on Jul 29

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 29 an Enforcement Directorate plea challenging the Jharkhand High Court's order granting bail to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan is scheduled to hear the federal agency's plea against the June 28 order of the high court. Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had resigned as chief minister shortly before the ED arrested him on January 31 in the case. After coming out of jail on bail in the case, he took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on July 4. Earlier during the hearing in the high court, the ED's counsel had argued that if Soren was released on bail, he might commit a similar offence and referred to cases against ED officers in the SC/ST police station. "Though the conduct of the petitioner has been sought to be highlighted by the Enforcement Directorate on account of the First Information Rep

NITI Aayog meeting: Vision 2047 to Opposition boycott. All you need to know

The 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is facing boycott from several Opposition chief ministers over a 'biased' Union Budget