Hemant Soren Condemns BJP-Led Centre and Addresses Political Targeting in Interview with Kapil Sibal Ahead of ED Arrest

A day before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with an alleged land fraud case, he expressed fearlessness in the face of probe agencies’ actions. Speaking in an interview with Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on his “Dil Se” YouTube program, Soren criticized the Bharatiya Janata-led Centre for what he deemed as politically motivated targeting.

The interview, recorded in New Delhi on Tuesday, was released on Thursday. Hemant Soren accused the BJP of attempting to destabilize the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government since its formation. The ED arrested Soren after over seven hours of questioning regarding money laundering charges related to the alleged land fraud case.

In a dig at the probe agency, Hemant Soren said the ED has taken a liking to him and has been sending summons to him since 2022.

“There is no FIR, there is no name, but the agency keeps trying to establish that ‘you have broken a law’,” the JMM leader said in the interview.

Soren shared his experiences, stating, “As soon as I formed the government, it started facing challenges in which our primary opposition people were involved, but we tackled that.” He took a swipe at the ED, claiming they had developed an interest in him and had been summoning him since 2022 without any formal charges.

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Despite facing the ED’s actions, Hemant Soren asserted that the objective was to mentally harass leaders opposing the BJP and their families. “We do politics on our own strength, we will protect what we have built,” he declared, expressing resilience against the alleged politically motivated moves.

Regarding the actions of probe agencies, Soren stated that he was becoming accustomed to such situations. He accused his opponents of resorting to threats, inducements, and other tactics when unable to succeed politically.

“They can keep targeting me; I don’t care. I am not scared of this. We entered power politics because only through this can we support people,” Hemant Soren remarked, emphasizing his commitment to serving the public.

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Addressing the future of the opposition bloc in India, Soren expressed optimism, stating that nothing is impossible in the realm of politics. Responding to Sibal’s question about officials being targeted, Soren confirmed that his officials were indeed facing threats. He explained that officials, being the executing body, were being intimidated, emphasizing that his government prioritizes ethical conduct.

Just before his arrest, Hemant Soren resigned as the Chief Minister and submitted his resignation to Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi before being taken to the ED office.