Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren delivered a scathing critique of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a virtual rally from Ranchi on Wednesday, likening the RSS to “rats” and accusing both organizations of undermining communal harmony for electoral gain in the poll-bound state.
Speaking at the rally in Bhognadih, Sahibganj, Soren alleged that the BJP was deliberately sowing discord between Hindu and Muslim communities in Jharkhand, referencing the involvement of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. “RSS is invading the state like rats and destroying it. Chase such forces away when you see them entering your villages with ‘handia’ and ‘daru’ (locally brewed liquor),” he warned. “They aim to create communal disturbances and tension ahead of elections for political gain.”
Soren also cautioned against provocative incidents, such as throwing meat into temples and mosques, which he claimed could escalate tensions. He characterized the BJP as a party of “traders and industrialists,” accusing it of purchasing political loyalty to further its agenda. This remark seemed directed at former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, who recently defected to the BJP.
Additionally, Soren dismissed BJP claims regarding demographic changes in Jharkhand, urging critics to instead examine demographic data from neighboring West Bengal.
His remarks underscore the escalating political tensions in the region as the state approaches elections, with communal harmony at the forefront of the discourse.
