A sharp political row has broken out following a recent remark by Hemant Soren, with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing him of offending religious sentiments.
State BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu strongly criticised the Chief Minister, alleging that his comments amounted to disrespect towards Hindu deities and traditional festivals.
The controversy arose from Soren’s address on the concluding day of the Budget Session in the Jharkhand Assembly on Wednesday.
During his speech, he questioned the tangible outcomes of widespread religious practices, stating that despite celebrations like Saraswati Puja, many of the most accomplished individuals are seen abroad.
He further remarked that even with observances such as Lakshmi Puja, prosperity seems to lie outside the country, hinting that “something is not right”.
Soren also underlined that while people often emphasise performing rituals, there is comparatively less focus on education.
He questioned how the country could aspire to become a “Vishwa Guru” under such circumstances.
Responding to the remarks, Sahu accused the Chief Minister of echoing the approach of Rahul Gandhi, and described his statements on festivals like Saraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Vishwakarma Puja and Ram Navami as insensitive and disrespectful towards Hindu faith.
He further alleged that “appeasement politics” had influenced such statements and said it was regrettable that leaders in power were making controversial remarks.
Stressing that public representatives must show equal respect to all religions, Sahu also claimed that Soren’s participation in religious rituals contrasted with his statements, indicating a “dual stance”.
He demanded an apology from the Chief Minister, warning of public resentment if the issue remained unaddressed.
Meanwhile, former Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri termed the remarks “unfortunate” and cautioned that such comments could send an adverse message in society.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), however, dismissed the allegations and countered the BJP, accusing it of exploiting religious issues for political mileage. Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said the controversy was being unnecessarily amplified and maintained that the BJP often invokes religion to maintain its political relevance.
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