Ranchi
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday shared on ‘X’ the prisoner’s stamp on his arm and termed it a symbol of current challenges in democracy.
“Today, on the occasion of my birthday, the memory of the past one year is imprinted in my heart – that is the prisoner’s stamp – which was put on my hand when I was released from jail. This mark is not just of mine, but a symbol of the current challenges of our democracy,” Hemant, who turned 49, wrote in the social media post.
“When an elected Chief Minister can be put in jail for 150 days without any proof, complaint or crime, then what will they do with the common tribals, dalits, oppressed people – I don’t need to say this,” he said.
Hemant, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 from the Raj Bhawan, soon after he resigned as the Chief Minister.
He was released from the Birsa Munda Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi on June 28 after the Jharkhand High Court granted him bail in the case.
“Today, I am even more determined and I strengthen my resolve to fight for the rights of every exploited, deprived, dalit, backward, tribal and indigenous persons. I will raise my voice for every person, community, who have been suppressed, denied justice and is being harassed on the basis of colour, community, food habits, clothing and others,” he asserted adding “We have to unite and build a society where the law is equal for all, where there is no misuse of power.”
He said that the path will not be easy. “We will have to face many challenges. But I am confident that together we can overcome these challenges. Because our country’s unity and diversity is our strength,” he said.
Jharkhand will have Assembly elections later this year and both the BJP and the JMM-led INDI Alliance are already geared up to take on each other. The latter is more enthused as it was able to win all the five ST reserved Lok Sabah seats in the State in the recent Parliamentary elections.
