Thursday, February 1, the Tribal Indigenous Union has declared a statewide shutdown in Jharkhand in opposition to the arrest of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The ED team apprehended Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday after nearly 7 hours of interrogation. Following the arrest, Soren submitted his resignation to the Governor at the Raj Bhavan. Subsequently, the ED team escorted Hemant Soren to the ED office in Doranda, where he will stay overnight. He is scheduled to be presented in the ED court tomorrow.
Supporters and members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and tribal organizations have been consistently protesting the interrogation of Hemant Soren. They allege that the Central Government and BJP are orchestrating trouble for the Chief Minister through central agencies.
Political Reactions:
The political landscape has erupted with responses to Hemant Soren’s arrest:
- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha claims it is a political conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP.
- The Congress party denounces it as authoritarian tactics by the Central Government.
It remains to be seen what impact the Jharkhand shutdown will have and when Hemant Soren will be released.
