Shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday hit back, saying neither the UCC nor the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be implemented in the state.
Shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday hit back, saying neither the UCC nor the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented in the state. Soren stressed that Jharkhand will only follow the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts to protect tribal culture, land and rights.
Neither UCC nor NRC will be implemented: Soren
At a rally in Garhwa, Soren said, “Neither UCC nor NRC will be implemented here. Jharkhand will depend only on the Chotanagpur Tenancy and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts. These people (BJP) are spewing venom and they do not care about the tribals, indigenous people, Dalits or backward communities.”
What did Amit Shah say?
Soren’s response comes after Amit Shah’s comment while releasing the BJP’s manifesto, in which he said, “Our government will implement the Uniform Civil Code in Jharkhand, but tribals will be kept out of its purview. Hemant Soren and the JMM government are spreading false propaganda that the Uniform Civil Code will affect tribal rights, culture and related laws, which is completely baseless.”
Shah stressed that although Uniform Civil Code will be implemented, it will be ensured that tribal rights are not affected.
Soren also strongly attacked Shah’s comment that the JMM-led alliance is promoting Naxalism. He said that elections being held in two phases is proof that Naxalism has been curbed, whereas earlier elections were held in five phases.
He compared the BJP to a ‘drying tree’
and vowed to uproot it. He alleged that the party’s goal was to displace local residents for mineral wealth. Accusing the BJP of weakening his government, Soren said, “The Center has not yet paid coal dues of Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state for mining by coal companies.”
Questioning the Centre’s stand on Bangladeshi infiltration, Soren asked why former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was allowed to land in India even though the government had raised security concerns. “Which internal agreements allow this? Border security is the responsibility of the Indian government,” he said. Soren defended his government’s welfare initiatives, especially the Menaya Samman Yojana, saying it was designed to support all communities regardless of religion.
He promised, ‘In the coming five years, we will send one lakh rupees to every woman.’ He alleged that the elections were scheduled before time due to fear of BJP. ‘These people did not let our term complete, one month was left. They announced the elections a month before.’ Elections for the 81-member assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20 and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
