Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren seems to have an uncanny knack for staying in controversy. After a virtual meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Monday, the Jharkhand CM announced that his government will distribute free shrouds (kafans) for everyone in the state.
“Nobody will have to purchase ‘shrouds’ in Jharkhand, as it will be made available to everyone for free all over State. (Sabhi logon ko kafan muft dia jayega)” the CM was heard as saying.
झारखंड के मुख्यमंत्री सबको कफ़न मुफ्त देंगे pic.twitter.com/5PwjCAxKES
— Suresh Nakhua (𝐏𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐊) (@SureshNakhua) May 25, 2021
As soon as the video of Soren making such an unfortunate announcement went viral on social media platforms, the BJP state unit jumped into action and targeted Soren. BJP Jharkhand president and MP Deepak Prakash said that the irony is when the Centre is leaving no stone unturned in saving the lives of citizens, the JMM-led government in Jharkhand is pushing for free distribution of shrouds to the public.
अजीब विडंबना है कि जहां एक ओर केंद्र सरकार देशवासियों की जान बचाने के लिए युद्ध स्तर पर काम कर रही है.
वहीं दूसरी ओर झारखण्ड की ठगबंधन सरकार जनता को फ्री में कफ़न बांटने में जोर लगा रही है.
— Deepak Prakash (@dprakashbjp) May 24, 2021
Labelling the government’s announcement as “unfortunate” and “shameful”, BJP spokesperson Kunal Sarangi said that the administration should have decided to distribute free ration and medicine.
हुज़ूर ने ना दवाओं, न दुआओं के काबिल समझा
गुस्ताखी इतनी थी कि कफ़न ही मुनासिब समझा#FreeCoffinInJharkhandसिर्फ केंद्र को दोषी ठहराने वाले ये सार्वजनिक करें कि अब तक मिले #vaccine के डोज़ में 45 + के कितने लोगों को आच्छादित किया गया है? ग्रामीण ईलाकों में रफ़्तार क्यों धीमी है? pic.twitter.com/wL2yLQmBjn
— KunalSarangi (@KunalSarangi) May 24, 2021
Hemant Soren is the same leader who had taken to Twitter to openly mock the country’s Prime Minister when the latter had dialled up the state CMs to take account of the Covid situation in the respective states. However, Soren, breaking all political and moral protocols engaged in petty politics and invited criticism from supporters and detractors alike for his abject lack of self-awareness.
“Today, the respected Prime Minister called. He only spoke his “Mann Ki Baat“. It would have been better if he would have talked business and listened to the issues,” the Jharkhand Chief Minister had tweeted in Hindi.
Himanta Biswa Sarma – the newly crowned CM of Assam had schooled Hemant Soren for his improper conduct by tweeting, “Your tweet is not just against minimum decorum but is also a mockery of the pain of the people of your state, for whom the Prime Minister called you. You have pulled a despicable stunt. You have lowered the dignity of the Chief Minister’s post.”
आपका यह ट्वीट न सिर्फ़ न्यूनतम मर्यादा के ख़िलाफ़ है बल्कि उस राज्य की जनता की पीड़ा का भी मजाक़ उड़ाना है जिनका हाल जानने के लिए माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने फ़ोन किया था। बहुत ओछी हरकत कर दी आपने। मुख्यमंत्री पद की गरिमा भी गिरा दी https://t.co/AIm0V6uc17
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 6, 2021
At a time when the country is going through a harrowing second Covid wave, Soren’s statements lately have been despicable and downright inhumane. It is indeed a question to ponder — which political party or a state administration prides itself in providing free shrouds to its populace and when called out, indulges in whataboutery and strawman.
