Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, on the occasion of his 49th birthday on Saturday, shared a picture of the prisoner's stamp on his hand and called it a symbol of current challenges in democracy. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, who was in jail for nearly five months in an alleged land scam case, also vowed to fight against all forms of injustice.
Taking to X, Soren shared a photo of the prisoner's mark he received upon his release from jail and wrote, “Today, on my birthday, the memory of the past year is etched in my mind. That mark, which was placed on me when I was released from jail, is not just mine but a symbol of the current challenges of our democracy.”
Soren, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was released from Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi on June 28 after the high court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to a land scam.
The JMM leader said that if an elected chief minister can be put in jail for 150 days "without any proof, complaint or crime," it is evident what might happen to "common tribals, Dalits, and the oppressed."
"Therefore, today I am even more determined and strengthen my resolve to fight for the rights of every oppressed, deprived, Dalit, backward, tribal, indigenous person. I will raise my voice for every person/community that has been suppressed, that has been denied justice, that is being persecuted on the basis of its colour, community, food habits, clothing. We have to unite and build a society where the law is equal for all, where there is no misuse of power," he said.
Soren also expressed his gratitude to his supporters and thanked them for their affection, prayers, and blessings. He said that the path will not be easy, but "We will have to face many challenges."
"But I am confident that together we can overcome these challenges. Because our country's unity and diversity is our strength," he added.
Soren, the executive president of JMM, was arrested by ED on January 31, minutes after he resigned as chief minister. He was again sworn in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand on July 4, after coming out of jail.
Meanwhile, the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi also greeted Soren on his birthday and vowed that the INDIA bloc will fight for the rights of the poor, the deprived and tribals of the country and will win.
In a post in Hindi on X, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren ji on his birthday.
"In the fight for the rights of the poor, the deprived and the tribals of the country, and against every injustice done to them, INDIA will fight strongly and together we will win," Gandhi said.
Assembly elections and Jharkhand are slated to take place later this year. The JMM and the Congress are part of the ruling alliance in the state and hope to repeat the coalition government by overcoming the challenge from the BJP-led opposition in Jharkhand.