UCC will not be implemented in Jharkhand, Hemant Soren’s retort on Amit Shah’s announcement

Ranchi. Shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday retorted that neither UCC nor National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented in the state. Soren insisted that Jharkhand will only follow the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts to protect tribal culture, land and rights. At a rally in Garhwa, Soren said, ‘Neither Uniform Civil Code nor NRC will be implemented here. Jharkhand will fully follow the Chotanagpur Tenancy and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts. These people (BJP leaders) are spewing venom and they do not care about the tribals, indigenous people, Dalits or backward communities. Earlier, while releasing the BJP manifesto, Shah said, “Our government will implement the Uniform Civil Code in Jharkhand, but the tribals will be kept out of its purview. The Hemant Soren and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government is spreading false propaganda that the Uniform Civil Code will affect tribal rights, culture and related laws.” Shah stressed that even though the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented, it will be ensured that the rights of the tribals are not affected. Soren also strongly attacked Shah’s comment that the JMM-led alliance is promoting Naxalism. He said that the elections being held in two phases is proof that Naxalism has been curbed, whereas earlier elections were held in five phases. Soren compared the BJP to a drying tree and vowed to uproot it. He alleged that the BJP’s goal is to displace local residents for mineral wealth. Soren accused the BJP of weakening his government and said, “The Centre is yet to pay coal dues of Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state for mining by coal companies.” Questioning the Centre’s stand on infiltration from Bangladesh, Soren asked why former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was allowed to visit India despite the government’s security concerns. “Under which internal agreement was this allowed? Border security is the responsibility of the Indian government,” he said.