Ranchi: Hours after BJP leader Babulal Marandi denied the involvement of his party loyalists and members in Monday evening’s mob attack on the convoy of chief minister Hemant Soren at Kishoreganj area here, ruling JMM on Tuesday accused Marandi of misleading the public and the police investigation.
Talking to TOI, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “There is enough evidence to establish that BJP workers, loyalists and leaders were behind yesterday’s incident. These people were planning the incident for two days.”
He further said, "Babulal ji is misleading the police and the public over the issue. The facts will come out very soon as the police are carrying out an investigation.”
Stating that the JMM camp is observing BJP’s posturing over the issue closely, Bhattacharya added, “If they are politicizing the issue, we will answer them politically as well.” Bhattacharya added.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the ruling Mahagatbandhan dispensation of JMM, Congress and RJD rallied behind Soren on social media. JMM’s official Twitter handle also floated the hashtag #GundapartyBJP.
State agriculture minister and Congress leader Badal Patralekh tweeted, “There is no place for mobsters in a democracy. I condemn the attack on CM Hemant Soren and urge the police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible.”
Patralekh’s sentiments were echoed by water resources minister Mithilesh Thakur. Retweeting a video of the incident which was posted by BJP’s state unit, Thakur wrote: “Don't stoop so low that you become ashamed of yourself.”
JMM’s Giridih legislator Sudivya Kumar posted a photograph of JMM karyakartas burning an effigy of Marandi to condemn the attack on Soren’s convoy. Labour minister Satyanand Bhogta (RJD) also condemned the attack.
Soren, however, remained silent on the episode and went about his business as usual. After meeting people from various walks of life at his Kanke Road residence, Soren met Amrit Lugun, a native of Jharkhand and the Indian ambassador to Greece, at the CMO in Project Building. He took to Twitter to extend his greetings to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on her birthday and condoled the demise of Sahibganj BJP MLA Anant Ojha’s mother.