IPA Newspack
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets

IPA /

Politics

Politics

Lease row threatens Soren’s political career

Jharkhand is again in the limelight, but for all the wrong reasons.

First, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s name got mired in a mining controversy for a land he leased to himself.

Moreover, controversial Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer and mining secretary Pooja Singhal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds and the money laundering Act.

While the cases are not directly related, the lease was renewed when Singhal was the mining secretary, thus compounding the matter.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has connected the dots to attack Jharkhand CM, while Soren said whoever was responsible will be punished, but investigation must also include why Singhal was given a clean chit by the previous Raghubar Das government.

Hemant Soren, who is also the working president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, allotted a granite mining lease to himself and his brother, Basant. The news spread like wildfire, but the issue got complicated as he also holds the environment and mining department.

Soren surrendered the lease on February 11, 2022, however, the court found it objectionable and asked him to file an affidavit.

The BJP, meanwhile, submitted all documents pertaining to mining to governor Ramesh Bais, based on whose recommendation the Election Commission (EC) issued a notice to the chief minister. The EC has given Soren another 10 days to respond, as he faces the danger of being disqualified under section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Das, however, accused Soren of misusing the office for personal gains. He alleged that Soren’s act amounts to violation of Representation of the People Act, 1951, which may result in his resignation.

The JMM hit back, saying merely owning a mining lease doesn’t come under office of profit, as the quarry was not operational.

After due process, the mining lease in Angarha was given in-principle approval by the District Mining Officer (DMO) and later by the Block development officer (BDO) on June 7, 2021.

Soren is facing a tough time in his career as he has to convince the EC to avoid disqualification.

JMM leader Manoj Kumar said, “There is no danger to the JMM government as we have a majority in the Assembly. As far as the mining case is concerned, we have asked the EC to consider our point of view. We believe owning a mine will not result in Soren’s disqualification.”

After the EC’s notice, the political situation has become unstable, said Pradeep Sinha, a BJP leader.

This is not the first time, the Soren family is in trouble.

His father and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren was accused of receiving money to support P V Narsimha Rao-led minority government in 1993, which was later known as the JMM bribery case.

The JMM patriarch was also convicted by a trial court in 2006 in connection with the murder of his private secretary. He was later acquitted.

Basant Soren’s name also figured in an illegal mining case in Pakur district, even before he became the MLA from Dumka Assembly.

With inputs from News18

IPA Special

Traders Behind Soaring Wheat Prices In India

May 23, 2022
IPA Special

Navjot Sidhu Sentence Speaks Poorly Of The Pace Of Judicial Process

May 23, 2022
IPA Special

Gyanvapi Masjid/Mandir Issue Is More Complex And Volatile Than Ayodhya

May 23, 2022
IPA Special

Europe Is At Crossroads Between Neoliberalism And Justice

May 23, 2022
Business

M’rashtra, Kerala, R’sthan cut fuel VAT after central cut

May 23, 2022
Happening Now

Saudi Arabia bans travel to India, other countries over covid

May 23, 2022
Happening Now

Assam academic held for criticising govt policies

May 23, 2022
Happening Now

KCR’s immediate agenda presidential poll; Cong left out

May 23, 2022
Happening Now

No decision for excavation at Qutub Minar, minister

May 23, 2022
IPA Special

Remembering Rammohan Roy On His 250th Birth Anniversary On May 22

May 22, 2022
IPA Special

Supreme Court Stress On Cooperative Federalism A Slap On Centre

May 21, 2022
IPA Special

Even After Udaipur Chintan Shivir, Congress Is Groping For Its Role

May 21, 2022
IPA Special

Learning Poverty In India To Induce Huge Loss Of Jobs And GDP

May 21, 2022
IPA Special

Winning The Hearts Of Foreigners Abroad Is Not Going To Help Rahul Gandhi

May 21, 2022
IPA Special

Rammohun Roy And Karl Marx: Resonating Together

May 21, 2022
IPA Special

Mexico Leads In Opposing The Cuba Blockade And U.S. Mischief

May 21, 2022
Business

RBI to pay Rs 30,307 crore dividend to govt for FY22

May 21, 2022
Politics

No senior Cong leader at Sidhu’s residence after jail verdict

May 21, 2022
Politics

Bommai in Delhi amid speculation about cabinet changes

May 21, 2022
Happening Now

Jet Airways to start flying again after 3 years

May 21, 2022

An appeal

The legacy of IPA, founded by Nikhil Chakravartty, the doyen of journalism in India, to keep the flag of independent media flying high, is facing the threat of extinction due to the effect of the Covid pandemic. Only an emergency funding can avert such an eventuality. We appeal to all those who believe in the freedom of expression to contribute to this noble cause.
Click here to learn more

Share

Reply

  • 0
More on IPA

No senior Cong leader at Sidhu’s residence after jail verdict

May 21, 2022 1:36 am | IPA Staff

No senior Punjab Congress leader was seen either at Navjot Singh Sidhu’s residence here or at a court where the former cricketer surrendered on a...

Politics

Bommai in Delhi amid speculation about cabinet changes

May 21, 2022 12:40 am | IPA Staff

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai arrived in the national capital on Friday and his sudden visit, the second in less than 10 days, sparked speculation...

Politics

Raj Thackeray puts Ayodhya visit on hold

May 21, 2022 12:04 am | IPA Staff

Days after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) warned that the entire state will rise if Raj Thackeray is harmed during his visit to Ayodhya, the...

Politics

KCR on national mission, to start tour from Delhi

May 20, 2022 9:40 am | IPA Staff

Aiming to play a key role in national politics with an alternative agenda, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will undertake a nation-wide tour, starting...

Politics

No senior Cong leader at Sidhu’s residence after jail verdict

in Politics
May 21, 2022   ·  

Bommai in Delhi amid speculation about cabinet changes

in Politics
May 21, 2022   ·  

Raj Thackeray puts Ayodhya visit on hold

in Politics
May 21, 2022   ·  
Follow us on
Up Next: Kejriwal vows free pilgrimage on AAP’s Gujarat win
©2020 -2021 India Press Agency, All Rights Reserved
Newspack by India Press Agency
Posting....
logo
  • Home
  • now
  • politics
  • business
  • markets