File pic of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Babulal Marandi.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Monday expressed apprehension of a threat to his life by the State government and made a series of allegations against the regime.

Mr. Marandi, the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has accused the State government that people close to incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren have taken a “contract to harm him and his family”. He further claimed that something bad can happen to him and his family anytime.

The BJP leader pointed out that despite all the threats and conspiracies, he will continue to raise issues related to corruption and loot in the government system.

“I have come to know from my reliable sources that the Chief Minister and his corrupt officers have taken a supari (contract) to threaten and scare me. There is a conspiracy going on to attack me and add my name in false cases. It can happen against me, my family members and the people associated with me,” Mr. Marandi said during a press briefing in Giridih.

The BJP leader asserted that all this is happening because he keeps exposing the government and the alleged corruption being carried out by the officers holding top posts in the current regime.

As Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Marandi has been continuously attacking the Soren government accusing them of being involved in a liquor scam, sand scam, mining scam, land scam and illegal mining of coal and stones in Jharkhand.

Mr. Marandi has been vocal on the issue of developmental schemes being run by the government alleging that they are riddled with corruption.

“I want to bring to the notice of the media when there was a government of Hemant Soren in 2013, that time also Naxalites of Shikaripara in Dumka district were given supari. Then, I exposed the government about it in front of the media when there was a UPA [government] in both the State and Centre,” Mr. Marandi explained, adding that upon the news coming out, the Centre had withdrawn his security provided by the State government back then.

State conspiracy

Mr. Marandi reiterated that last night he had come to know that the State government is once again conspiring to harm him. “I must tell them that nobody can suppress my voice to raise the issues related to corruption and loot in Jharkhand, no matter what price I pay for it,” Mr. Marandi said.

Reacting to the allegations, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson Tanuj Khatri said: “Babulal Marandi seems to have no constructive work left, which is why he is resorting to baseless allegations that have no connection with reality. Making such low-level political statements without any evidence reflects a state of mental bankruptcy.”

“These repeated and irresponsible remarks appear to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and divert attention from the good work being done by the Hemant Soren government. Under his visionary leadership, Jharkhand has entered a new phase of inclusive development, tribal welfare, and people-centric governance,” he further said.

Mr. Khatri added, “From rural infrastructure to education, healthcare to employment, the government has prioritised real issues and delivered results. Rather than recognising these efforts, Opposition leaders are indulging in sensationalism. We strongly condemn such petty politics and urge everyone to focus on progress, not provocation. The people of Jharkhand deserve truth, not theatrics.”