With the BJP making politics of dynasty one of its election issues, the JMM has sought to know from the saffron party whether children of political leaders shouldnt join politics like the wards of doctors and engineers willingly following their parents profession.
The Congress, JMM, RJD, JD(Secular), DMK have been under attack from the BJP for their politics of dynasty and family.
"... There is a saying that if one lie is said hundred times it appears to be true. But it is not like that. The truth is the truth and they are mistaken if they think saying dynastic politics again and again people will believe it," Jharkhand Mukti Morcha working president and former chief minister Hemant Soren told PTI in an interview.
"BJP should explain if a son or daughter of a doctor or an engineer can choose profession of their parents why can't children of politicians join politics? I dont understand their (BJP) meaning of dynasty. What do you (BJP) want? Shouldnt we take forward politics? I would like to ask the BJP whether political parties should not have 'vansh' (dynasty)," Hemant Soren, asked, in an apparent support to politics of family.
The latest entry of the Soren family in politics is Shibu Sorens daughter Anjali Soren, who is contesting from Mayurbhanj (ST) Lok Sabha seat from neighbouring Odisha. Sorens late son Durga Soren was an MLA from Jama and his daughter-in-law, Sita Soren, succeeded him. His youngest son Basant Soren is a leader of the youth JMM.
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"As people have accepted dynastic politics, should we reject their desires and love towards Guruji (as his father Shibu Soren is known in Jharkhand)? They love, respect, adore him. Should Guruji be taken off (the contest)?" asked Hemant Soren.
The JMM working president told PTI that the main issues of the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' in the Lok Sabha election will be unemployment and farmers.
GST (Goods & Services Tax) has hit the poor, the farmers, the small and middle level traders, workers. Unemployment, lay-off, farmers distress are other issues which are being raised now, he said.
"Suicide by farmers were reported in the country. Suicide cases among the unemployment youth were reported, which is a dangerous indication," Soren said.
Asked whether Pulwama attack and the subsequent Balakot airstrike will sway the public mood towards the BJP, Soren asked back, "Do you think the unemployed people struggling to eke out a living will think of Pulwama or look for employment?"
The 44-year-old JMM working president alleged that BJP "humiliates" its own senior leaders, in an apparent reference to L K Advani, Sumitra Mahajan, Murli Manohar Joshi and Karia Munda being denied tickets.
The JMM had won two out of the 14 seats in Jharkhand in 2014 with the BJP winning 12. JMM president Shibu Soren who retained the Dumka (ST) seat in the face of Narendra Modi wave in 2014 has been re-nominated this time from the same seat.
On his 75-year-old father, Shibu Soren, who began his political career fighting landlords and moneylenders before joining statehood struggle and becoming member of Lok Sabha multiple times, Hemant said, "No other politician travelled as extensively across Jharkhand as Guruji to get in touch with people."
"Efforts had been made several times to ruin Guruji (politically) in different ways, but if ones intention is clear no one can stop him from reaching to the goal of serving people. That resulted in creation of Jharkhand. The BJP says A B Vajpayee had created separate Jharkhand. But who had struggled for the cause? Who received police batons? Who made their pen sign the papers (for separate statehood)?" he said.
"We won every political fight, and we will win many more electoral battles in the coming days. We have to protect the Constitution. We will never compromise on our values," he added.
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