Ranchi: BJP Youth Wing’s Protest Against CM Soren Turns Chaotic, Police Deploy Tear Gas And Water Cannons

The BJP's youth wing in Jharkhand held an anti-government protest against alleged injustices and unfulfilled promises of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's government.

The Jharkhand Police fired tear gas and deployed water cannons to disperse Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers who broke barricades during a protest in Ranchi against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren government on Friday. This protest rally is against the "injustice" meted out by the state government and its "failure to fulfill election promises".

The protesters gathered at the rally and tried to march towards CM Hemant Soren's residence, which is located near the Morabadi Ground, the venue of the protest programme. 

As per news agency PTI, BJP leaders alleged that several workers were injured during a police baton charge, with party leader Amar Kumar Bauri stating that it’s time to remove the JMM-led coalition from power, declaring, "No one can stop us."

Ranchi Protest: Jharkhand Police Say BJYM Protestors Flouted Prohibitory Orders

The district administration imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), replacing Section 144 of the CrPC, around the Morabadi Ground, except for the premises. The prohibitory orders banned public meetings, rallies, dharnas, and gatherings of five or more people within this area from 11 am to 11 pm on Friday. Additionally, carrying weapons or using loudspeakers in the area was prohibited, according to an official release.

A police official reported that BYJM workers violated the prohibitory orders. Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kumar Sinha told PTI, "Permission has not been sought for the rally, it was sought for 'sammelan' or meeting, which has been granted. Beyond the periphery of Morabadi Ground, we have promulgated prohibitory orders so no rally is allowed. We have made sufficient deployment. We have also appealed to the organisers to limit the programme to meeting only."

Another police official reported, "We have erected barricades near the chief minister's house and Morabadi Ground to prevent any untoward incident." The police personnel baton-charged the protesters to prevent them from going towards the house of the CM, he said, as per PTI.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers had gathered at Morabadi Ground for the 'Yuva Aakrosh Rally,' where BJP leaders were likely to address the crowd. A scuffle ensued between police and BYJM and BJP workers, led by party leader CP Singh.

The BJP criticised the prohibitory orders as an attempt to "stifle the voices" of BJYM workers protesting against the Hemant Soren government, claiming that the government’s days were numbered with the upcoming assembly elections.

'JMM Govt's Days Are Numbered': Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lashed out at the JMM government, in which he alleged that it was attempting to "stifle the voices of workers", which would prove to be "the last nail in its ( the JMM government's) coffin".

The order imposing the prohibitory measures highlighted the concerns about potential dharnas, demonstrations, and rallies that could disrupt government work, affect traffic, and cause public disturbances. "Such activities may cause disruption in government work, traffic movement may get affected, law and order situation may arise and public places may witness disturbances. Therefore prohibitory orders have been imposed," the order said.

Chouhan attacked the JMM-led government, alleging that it was preventing BJYM workers from reaching Ranchi from various districts as many buses were seized and making workers were made to disembark during the night.

"Barbed wire fencing has been erected around Morabadi Ground...Even the arrogance of Ravana did not last long and if you think that you can suppress voices through force, you will not succeed," Chouhan also said.

"Only a frightened CM (Hemant Soren) could resort to such practices. He is neither able to run the government nor his party. The Hemant Soren regime's contribution to the state is 7,812 murders, 7,115 rapes, 6,937 kidnappings, 8,792 riots, 2,721 loots, 485 dacoities and 2,73,261 other crimes." "Infiltrators are grabbing tribal land, there is open loot everywhere. When BJYM workers asked about poll promises like 5 lakh jobs, efforts are on to stifle their voices," he alleged.

Chouhan asserted that the current JMM-led government's days are limited and remarked, "If former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi couldn't silence us, how can you suppress our voices now?"