‘Jharkhand CM Should Expel Him’: Shivraj Chouhan Slams Minister For Calling BJP’s Sita Soren ‘Rejected Player’

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the statement is not only insulting to Sita Soren but also to the women of Jharkhand.

File photo of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Source : PTI

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lashed out at Congress leader and Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari on Saturday for making derogatory remarks against BJP leader Sita Soren. He emphasised the statement insulting not only Sita Soren but also the women of Jharkhand.

In response to the remarks, Chouhan demanded Chief Minister Hemant Soren to expel Ansari from the ministry. "Sadly, a minister in Hemant Soren's government, Irfan Ansari, has made a derogatory statement against Sita Soren. Doesn't he feel ashamed? She is a highly respected leader. Using such derogatory words against her is not only an insult to her but also to the women of Jharkhand. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren should expel him from the ministry," Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, news agency ANI reported.

Hitting out at the statement, Union Minister Annapurna Devi also said, "He (Irfan Ansari) has given a very wrong statement on Sita Soren. This exposes the mentality of the Congress party. The Congress party is anti-women and anti-youth...I condemn this statement...Will Rahul Gandhi take back the tickets given to people with such a low level of thinking?... The Congress party should remove such people from the cabinet..."

#WATCH | Koderma, Jharkhand: On Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari's statement, Union Minister Annapurna Devi says, "He (Irfan Ansari) has given a very wrong statement on Sita Soren. This exposes the mentality of the Congress party. The Congress party is anti-women and… pic.twitter.com/NgpJVuj9AM

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2024

Irfan Ansari, the Congress candidate from the Jamtara constituency, caused controversy with comments directed at his rival, BJP candidate Sita Soren, labeling her "rejected" and a "borrowed player."

Sita Soren Demands Apology From Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari

On Friday, Sharing a video on X, Sita Soren claimed that the Congress leader Ansari had called her these terms when asked by a journalist about competing against her in the upcoming election.

She demanded an apology, describing Ansari’s language as "indecent" and saying the public would respond accordingly."Congress @INCIndia candidate Irfan Ansari must apologise for the indecent language he used against me in front of the media immediately after filing his nomination. He has previously made personal comments about me, but this time he has crossed all limits. Irfan ji @IrfanAnsariMLA, apologise, or be prepared for fierce opposition," she posted on X.

कांग्रेस @INCIndia प्रत्याशी इरफान अंसारी ने नामांकन के तुरंत बाद मीडिया के सामने मेरे लिए जो अमर्यादित भाषा का प्रयोग किया है, उसके लिए उन्हें माफी मांगनी होगी। पहले भी उन्होंने मेरे बारे में व्यक्तिगत बातें बोली हैं, लेकिन इस बार उन्होंने सारी सीमाएं लांघ दी हैं। इरफान जी… pic.twitter.com/MceNhscoxS

— Sita Soren (@SitaSorenMLA) October 25, 2024

"The indecent words you used while holding such a respected position have alarmed women across society. If you can use such words for me, what must poor and vulnerable women face? As long as such leaders remain in power, women will remain unsafe. The time has come to remove them from power. The way you look at women is now before the public, and the public will respond," the BJP leader added.

BJP declared its first list of 66 candidates for the elections on Saturday after the ruling JMM-led alliance finalised its seat-sharing agreement. The BJP is going to contest the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). BJP will contest from 68 seats, AJSU 10 seats, JD-U two seats, and LJP one seat.

Elections for the 81 seats of the Jharkhand assembly are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20.