JMM alleges 500 CRPF personnel tried to enter Soren's house during ED questioning, seeks probe
Ranchi, Jan 21: Alleging that around 500 CRPF personnel tried to enter Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's residence without "any permission" when he was being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the ruling JMM on Sunday sought an investigation into it.
In a statement, the party claimed it was illegal and aimed at provoking Soren's supporters who were demonstrating nearby, so that they attack the CRPF personnel.
The ED questioned Soren on Saturday in connection with a money laundering case linked to land deals.
Around 2,000 security personnel were deployed, and prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC were also imposed around the CM's house, the statement issued by JMM general secretaries Supriyo Bhattacharya and Vinod Kumar Pandey said.
"In the meantime, hundreds of CRPF personnel, around 500, in buses tried to enter CM residence without any permission or information. The act is provocative and illegal," it alleged.
"They wanted the agitators and party workers to attack CRPF personnel so that the state government can be accused of failure of the constitutional system and the ground for imposing President's rule can be prepared," it claimed.
The JMM said it wants the government to order a high-level probe into the matter and take legal action against CRPF officers.
"Otherwise, the party will adopt the path of agitation," it said.
Earlier, officials had said that security was tightened in the area with heavy deployment of forces in the wake of the attacks on ED officers during raids on TMC leaders in neighbouring West Bengal.
The opposition BJP, meanwhile, alleged that even as prohibitory orders were imposed, thousands of JMM workers gathered near CM's house "to threaten the ED officials".
"Instead of visiting to ED office, the CM calls the probe officials at his residence. On the other hand, party workers are allowed to gather near the CM's house. If there were no CRPF personnel, ED officers might have been in big trouble," BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said.
Instead of taking action against party workers for violating prohibitory orders, JMM was demanding action against CRPF, he added.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership isssue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
