Page 17 - Jharkhand

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

After former J'khand CM Champai Soren, ex-JMM MLA Lobin Hembrom joins BJP

A day after former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren joined the BJP, ex-JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom on Saturday crossed over to the saffron camp. Hembrom was given membership of the BJP by the party's state chief Babulal Marandi in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "The JMM has changed from what was it in Guruji's (JMM supremo Shibu Soren) time. Now, there is no respect for senior leaders in the JMM. So, I decided to join the BJP for development of Jharkhand and uplift of tribals," the former Borio legislator said at the saffron camp's state headquarters here. Hembrom was disqualified from the Jharkhand assembly under the anti-defection law with effect from July 26. The former legislator, who had been vocal against his own party, contested as an independent candidate from the Rajmahal Lok Sabha seat, challenging JMM's nominee Vijay Hansdak. Hembrom tasted defeat in the parliamentary elections. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) had initiated proceedings

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

Champai Soren under own govt 'surveillance' for 5 months: Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday alleged that Jharkhand minister Champai Soren had been under 'surveillance' of his own government police for last five months. Two sub-inspectors (SIs) of Special Branch of Jharkhand Police were nabbed by Soren's people in a Delhi hotel while they were keeping watch on the ex-chief minister, Sarma said. "This is one of rarest case of surveillance in Indian politics, we will raise it at the highest levels," Sarma said at a press conference here. "As per the two SIs, orders to track Soren came from a 'person in Constitutional position' and the Special Branch chief," Sarma said. He said the two SIs were handed over to Delhi police, who are taking forward the investigation. The Assam CM said it is also suspected now that Soren's phones could be tapped and there might have been a plan to 'honey trap' him as a woman had also been meeting the two SIs. "Soren was put under surveillance even before he was in talks with the BJP," Sarma

Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren to join BJP on August 30: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren will join the BJP. Sarma said Soren will join the party on August 30 in Ranchi. He posted a picture of Soren meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah here. Sarma, who is the BJP's co-incharge for the Jharkhand assembly polls, was also part of the meeting. "Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, Champai Soren Ji met Hon'ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the BJP on 30th August in Ranchi," Sarma said on 'X'. A Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, Soren had accused its leadership of insulting him and announced that he would soon decide on his next political course. It was widely speculated that he might join the BJP, with JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accusing the party of working to poach its leaders.

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 .

SIT registers FIR against school authorities in Badlapur assault case

The SIT recorded the statements of both the minor victims along their parents, added SIT

J'khand Health Minister Banna Gupta to bring medical protection bill soon

Amid junior doctors' stir demanding security at workplaces, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta said the state government will soon bring a medical protection bill to the assembly. The Jharkhand government is concerned and sensible about the safety of doctors and healthcare workers, he said. Doctors across the country, including those in Jharkhand, have also been protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic in Kolkata. After the Supreme Court's appeal, junior doctors at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi resumed work on Friday as they withdrew their 'pen down' agitation over the killing of the postgraduate trainee doctor. "A medical protection bill will be brought soon in the state to ensure that a stringent law is enacted for the protection of medical professionals," Gupta said. "I have come to know that the agitating doctors have called off their strike and decided to resume work. I, on behalf of the Jharkhand government, .

Won't quit politics, open to floating new outfit, says Champai Soren

Former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren said he would not quit politics, asserting that an option to float a new political outfit was always open to him. Soren said he was firm on his plans after "facing humiliation at the hands of leaders of JMM", a party to which the veteran leader claimed that he devoted his entire life. "It is a new chapter of my life. I won't quit politics as I have received lots of love and support from my followers. The chapter has closed, I may form a new outfit," the senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader said shortly after he reached his ancestral village Jhilingora in Seraikela-Kharsawan district post midnight on Tuesday. The 67-year-old tribal leader has earned the nickname "Jharkhand's Tiger" for his contribution to the fight to create a separate state in the 1990s. Jharkhand was carved out of the southern part of Bihar in 2000. "No one from JMM contacted me. This is the land of Jharkhand...I have struggled since my student life. I participa

Bharat Bandh gets mixed response; scuffle in Bihar's Patna: Top updates

The Bharat Bandh call has been initiated by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) to protest against the August 1 Supreme Court ruling

NDRF to join search operations for missing aircraft in J'khand's Seraikela

A NDRF team will join the search operation in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district on Wednesday to trace a two-seater aircraft that went missing after it took off from an aerodrome here, a police officer said. Search operations for the missing aircraft were carried out on Tuesday till midnight, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Chandil) Sunil Kumar Rajwar told PTI. The SDPO said NDRF team from Ranchi will join in the search operation on Wednesday. A massive search operation is being conducted in Chandil dam in Seraikela-Kharswan district after locals claimed that they saw the debris of the aircraft in the reservoir, Superintendent of Police (Seraikela-Kharswan) Mukesh Kumar Lunayat told PTI. Earlier, East Singhbhum district Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal told PTI that the last location of the aircraft, which belonged to Alchemist Aviation company, was detected near Nimdih under Chandil sub-division of Seraikela-Kharswan district, by the Air Traffic Control at Sonari Aerodrome.

No talk yet with Champai Soren on his joining to party: J'khand BJP prez

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Monday said that no talk was held yet with Champai Soren regarding his joining the saffron party. Marandi said that Champai is a seasoned politician and he would himself decide his own path. Amid speculation about a potential switch to the BJP, Champai reached Delhi on Sunday afternoon. Later in a social media post, Champai Soren said that he experienced "bitter humiliation" as chief minister, which compelled him to seek an alternative path. "No talk was held yet with Champai Soren. He is a seasoned politician and has been part of the separate Jharkhand movement. He will himself decide his own path," Marandi said. Mentioning Champai's post, he said, "It indicates that he was deeply hurt. He felt humiliated the way he was removed from the CM's post." Champai highlighted in the post that he had been asked to resign during the meeting of party legislators on July 3. He was taken aback, as his self-respect was hurt. The ex-CM said he had ..

Champai says experienced humiliation as J'khand CM, hints at quitting JMM

JMM leader Champai Soren on Sunday said he experienced "bitter humiliation" as chief minister and three options are open to him, including floating a new outfit. His comment hinting that he may quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) came shortly after he reached Delhi amid speculation about a potential switch to the BJP as party supremo and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the saffron party of "poaching" MLAs and "dividing society". BJP leader Babulal Marandi said in reaction to Champai Soren's post that this is "just the beginning of the downfall of JMM, which has deviated from its ideology". In a statement, Champai Soren alleged that all his government programmes in the first week of July, when he was the chief minister, were abruptly cancelled by the party leadership without his knowledge. He said he kept quiet as he was not greedy for power but his self-respect was hurt. "After so much humiliation, I was forced to look for an alternative path," Champai Soren said i

Experienced bitter humiliation as Jharkhand CM, says Champai Soren

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Champai Soren on Sunday said he experienced "bitter humiliation" as chief minister. His statement came hours after he reached Delhi amid speculations about him joining the BJP. He claimed all his government programmes were cancelled on July 3 by the party leadership without his knowledge. "When I asked about the reasons for cancellation, I was told that there is a meeting of party legislators on July 3 and I cannot attend any government programmes till then," he posted on social media. "Can there be anything more humiliating in a democracy than a chief minister's programme being cancelled by another person?" he said.

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

INDIA bloc will not face any problem if Champai Soren joins BJP: Congress

Amid speculation that former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren could join the BJP, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar on Sunday claimed that the ruling INDIA bloc in the state would not face any problem if the JMM veteran crosses over to the saffron camp. If Soren switches sides, it would create a fissure among BJP leaders in the state, Kumar said. "The ruling alliance will not have any problem as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be the face of the INDIA bloc in the assembly poll this year. But this will certainly create a fissure among BJP leaders," the Congress leader said while responding to a query on speculations about Champai Soren. 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 Delhi, the JMM leader told reporters that he hadn't met any BJP leader and was in the

Ex-J'khand CM Champai leaves for Delhi amid speculations of him joining BJP

JMM leader and former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday amid speculations of him likely to join the BJP, sources said. A close associate of Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata on Sunday. He refused to divulge further details. Soon after landing in Delhi, Soren told reporters that he hasn't met any BJP leader and he is in the national capital on a "personal" visit. Some media reports had on Friday claimed that Soren could join the saffron party ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections. But, Soren had on Saturday said he had no idea about the speculations. "I don't know anything about such speculations and reports... I am where I am..." he had told reporters here before leaving for Jamshedpur. When BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Amar Bauri was asked about speculations of Soren joining the BJP, he said, "I have no official confirmation. I am getting information only through the media.

Assam CM accuses JMM-led alliance govt of doing 'appeasement' politics

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday accused the JMM-led alliance government in Jharkhand of doing politics of "appeasement" in the state. Sarma, election co-incharge of BJP in Jharkhand, on Saturday, visited Bengabad in Giridih district to meet the kins of Havaldar Chouhan Hembram, who was killed by a convicted prisoner in a Hazaribag hospital on August 12. "No legislator either from JMM or Congress met the tribal victim family yet," Sarma said after meeting the mother of Hembram. Prisoner Shahid Ansari, serving a life sentence, escaped from Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district after hitting Hembram with a rod and strangulating him to death with a saline pipe. The accused was undergoing treatment in the hospital. The Assam CM alleged that the administration took no action to nab the absconding prisoner. Sarma said that when he came to know about the incident, he decided to meet the family with Jharkhand BJP chief .

Kolkata rape-murder: Doctors protest affects healthcare services in J'khand

Healthcare services were affected in Jharkhand on Saturday as doctors joined the 24-hour strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest the rape and murder of a colleague at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. IMA's state secretary doctor Pradeep Kumar Singh said health services would remain till 6 am on Sunday. "We seek justice for the trainee doctor, and condemn the vandalism carried out at RG Kar MCH," he said. State IMA chief doctor Arun Kumar Singh told PTI, "All government and private hospitals, besides diagnostic centres, are participating in the strike." "All elective services, outpatient department (OPD) activities, and elective surgeries will remain suspended during the strike. It will, however, not impact the emergency services," he said. Members of the IMA, Jharkhand State Health Association (JHSA), RDA-CIP, and the Association of Healthcare Providers will take out a march in Ranchi later in the day. Junior doctors at RIMS-Ranchi have