People from all walks of life expressed shock on the death of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy in a Mumbai hospital on Monday. Fr Stan, 84, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in 2020 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case.
While paying glowing tributes to Fr Stan, they also condemned the treatment meted out to him by the central agency and the jail authorities.
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Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren tweeted: “Shocked to learn about the demise of Father Stan Swamy. He dedicated his life working for tribal rights. I had strongly opposed his arrest and incarceration.”
Ranchi: Newly appointed members of the Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) from the BJP quota boycotted the maiden meeting of the council, chaired by chief minister Hemant Soren, here on Monday. Though the meeting convened virtually was more of a formality, it had political undertones as both ruling and opposition parties exchanged barbs.
Chairing the meeting, Soren said the council’s rules were not framed even after 20 years of Jharkhand’s existence. “We not only framed the rules for the first time but also nominated the members so that the council, lying defunct since last one-and-half years, can start functioning in the interest of the tribal population of the state,” he said.
Ranchi: Rejecting the corruption charges levelled by BJP MLA Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Thursday claimed all illegal activities in Santhal Pargana have stopped since the Hemant Soren government assumed office in January 2020. More than 900 vehicles involved in illegal mining and transportation have been seized and Rs 90 lakh has been levied as fine in Santhal Pargana till May this year. Our government is determined to halt all illegal activities in the region, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said.
On June 1, Marandi had accused JMM of being involved in corruption, extortion and other criminal activities in the division. Marandi had pointed fingers at Pankaj Mishra, representative of chief minister Hemant Soren in the Barhait assembly constituency, and said he was actively involved in a host of illegal activities. Marandi had claimed Mishra had threatened a local BJP functionary for tweeting against the incumbent government and usurping the lands