In an exclusive interview with NewsArena India, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babu Lal Marandi shares his thoughts on the state of politics in Jharkhand. Babulal Marandi was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, in addition to being a four-time member of the parliament, and is currently serving as State Party President for the BJP in the state.
What is your main strategy to reach the voters?
On behalf of the party, we have made a booth committee. There are 29,000 booths in Jharkhand. The members and executives of the booth committee have made sure that we reach every voter. Members of the booth committee have visited all of the 81 assembly constituencies in the state. It has been a successful venture, all thanks to the party and its members.
Will you be contesting the next assembly elections from Dhanbad?
This depends on the party's high command. The central Parliamentary committee of the party decides who will contest the elections from where.
You had left the BJP in 2006. What’s the difference between the working of the party then and now?
See, the BJP is a party based on an ideology. From the time the party was founded, we have been going ahead with the same ideology, so I find no difference. The core agenda of the party was set by Sri Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who laid down his life for Kashmir and the abrogation of Article 370, which has since been achieved. The construction of our Ram Mandir, which was nothing but a dream before the BJP came into power has now been realised. The fight for rights for Muslim women, by abrogation of the Triple Talaq, was also something that the BJP did after coming into power. The party wants to see a developed nation, and it is well on its way to achieving that goal.
In the past, you had proclaimed that Shibu Soren was the biggest tribal leader of the state. Do you feel that the situation is the same now?
I have never said that after him I am the greatest because there is no comparison of Shibu Soren. The time period he was born in and the revolution that he was a part of, were really different and he played his role very well. You are aware of my life and the struggles that I had, but I would never compare myself with him as I respect him very much.
Do you believe that Hemant Soren is a tribal leader?
No doubt that Hemant Soren was born into a tribal family in the house of Shibu Soren, but it would be an overstatement to call him a tribal leader as he has done nothing for the betterment of the tribal community. He has used politics only as a means for his family and money.
You call Hemant Soren and his associates corrupt, yet they enjoy support from tribals of the state. What is your opinion on this?
It is not just me and my party who are calling Hemant Soren corrupt. In fact, the entire state knows that he and his party have a deep-rooted system of corruption that has spread into the government. There is loot everywhere, be that coal, stone, or sand trade.
In any department under his government, you cannot get work done without paying a bribe. The state of law and order has never been worse. Crimes are increasing day by day and criminals have no fear these days. if anyone is fearful, it is the public of Jharkhand.
Hemant Soren has claimed that the ED is behind him. If he is as corrupt as you claim he is, why is he not being arrested?
Only the ED can tell you why he is not being arrested. But my question to Mr Soren is that if he believes that he is innocent then why has he not responded to the 3-4 notices that the ED has sent to him? He must sit with the ED and give proof of his innocence.
But instead, he is avoiding it, so there must be something. So I must request the ED that if a person does not appear, even after five notices, it must be recorded as a violation of the law, even more so when done by someone holding such a high position in the state government. This is a blatant disrespect of the law.
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