As the Jharkhand government faces political turmoil, state Health Minister Banna Gupta in the Hemant Soren-led government dared the BJP-led Centre to impose President’s rule in the state on Sunday. Banna Gupta also claimed that a “pre-planned conspiracy” to destabilise the state government was underway. His statement comes as MLAs from the ruling coalition arrived in Khunti, nearly 32 kilometres from Ranchi, ahead of the state’s impending political turmoil over reports that the poll body had recommended the CM’s disqualification as a legislator in a mining lease issue.
In a hastily convened press conference on Sunday in Ranchi, state Health Minister Banna Gupta dared the BJP-led Central government to impose president rule in the state. “If they fail to do so, they should cease such experiments of upsetting state citizens because the entire system has come to a halt,” he said.
“It is a premeditated plot to destabilise the Jharkhand government. We want the Governor to tell us that if the election commission has sent anything, it should be made public. The ED raided for months but found nothing “As per media sources, the minister said.
The minister asserted that the government has a full majority and challenged the Centre to impose President’s rule and destabilise the state government.
“We have a clear majority.” If the BJP has the guts, it should invoke Article 365 and depose the state government. Otherwise, it should not speak nonsense. All of this has now agitated the people of the state. “The entire system has come to a halt.”
Article 365 of the Constitution imposes the President’s rule on a state that fails to follow the union government’s directions.
Gupta stated that the ruling camp will fight and will not back down, claiming the support of more than 50 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.
Gupta went on to say that it is a dark chapter in democracy. According to him, India has a federal structure in which different state governments collaborate for the benefit of the country. Gupta went on to say that they are peace-loving people who also know how to do ‘ulgulaan’ (revolt). Jharkhand is known as the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Siddho-Kanu, Buddhu Bhagat, and Shibu Soren, and he claims that they will never bow down, stop, get tired, or be terrorised in order to avenge all the injustices done to them.
The ruling alliance includes 30 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLAs, 18 Congress MLAs, and one Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA (RJD).
The BJP has sought Soren’s removal as an MLA, accusing him of allocating a mining lease to himself while serving as Mines Minister in 2021. In February of this year, the BJP petitioned the Governor for Soren’s removal from the House under Section 9(A) of the Representation of the People Act.
Meanwhile, the state health minister has asked the governor to make his decision in the matter public in order to end the state’s political uncertainty. “We request that the Governor make his decision public; we will respond within 24 hours,” Banna Gupta said.
Read more: Midst of the Jharkhand crisis, Team Soren’s MLAs On The Move On Buses
