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The political landscape in Jharkhand is heating up, with accusations of snooping and defections taking center stage. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in surveillance activities, citing a case involving former cabinet minister Saryu Roy. This comes as former Chief Minister Champai Soren, a JMM leader, is set to join the BJP on August 30, adding fuel to the fire.
The controversy erupted after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also the BJP's co-incharge for Jharkhand polls, alleged that the Hemant Soren government was spying on Champai Soren for five months. Sarma claimed that two Special Branch officers were detained in Delhi for surveilling Champai, who is expected to join the BJP soon. While the officers were released after interrogation, the allegations raised concerns about privacy violations.
However, JMM spokesperson Tanuj Khatri strongly denied the allegations, instead accusing the BJP of being the 'pioneer in snooping.' Khatri argued that the BJP's politics revolves around surveillance and pointed to numerous examples of their alleged snooping activities. He also claimed that the BJP is resorting to such tactics because they lack strong leadership and issues to challenge the INDIA bloc government led by Hemant Soren.
Adding further fuel to the fire, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey demanded accountability from the BJP over allegations against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who was accused of surveilling his own cabinet colleague, Saryu Roy. Roy had publicly stated that he was subjected to illegal surveillance. These accusations highlight a pattern of alleged snooping by BJP leaders, according to the JMM.
Champai Soren's decision to join the BJP, announced by Himanta Biswa Sarma, is a significant development in Jharkhand politics. Soren's dissatisfaction with his treatment within the JMM, coupled with his brief stint as Chief Minister after Hemant Soren's arrest, appears to have led to this switch. His entry into the BJP is expected to bolster the party's chances in the upcoming elections.
This ongoing saga of accusations, defections, and alleged surveillance underscores the intense political rivalry between the BJP and the ruling JMM in Jharkhand. The coming months are likely to witness further twists and turns as the state gears up for elections, with the issue of snooping taking center stage.
Source: Snooping: JMM accuses BJP of snooping and brings up Saryu case