Jharkhand Assembly monsoon session begins with chaos over Bihar SIR

The five-day monsoon session of Jharkhand Assembly commenced on Friday. The house was adjourned till August 4 following the obituary references, however the issue of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar dominated outside the house.

Ruling government has also decided to oppose SIR and pass a resolution against it. Chief Minister Hemant Soren strongly opposed the SIR saying that all parties of the alliance will oppose the SIR.

Addressing the House, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto said the first supplementary budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year will be tabled, and some bills will also be presented during the five-day monsoon session. He also prayed for the good health of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren who is currently hospitalised in New Delhi.

Rajesh Kachhap, Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Jharkhand Assembly, said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is supporting SIR to avoid its defeat in the Bihar Assembly election. Mr. Kachhap asked that when the Aadhaar card is valid everywhere, then why not in SIR.

However, BJP MLA and former CM Champai Soren, called the SIR right, asserting that the voter list must be revised.

Later meeting of the BJP Legislature Party was held under the chairmanship of State President and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi.

Executive President Dr. Ravindra Kumar Rai, Organization General Secretary Karmaveer Singh, Chief Whip Naveen Jaiswal, MLA Neera Yadav and others were present in the meeting.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Mr. Jaiswal alleged that the state government is focused on Madrasa to Teresa and has nothing to do with development of Jharkhand.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Marandi termed the government’s move to change the name of Atal Mohalla Clinic running in the state to Mother Teresa as political hooliganism.

“This is the height of appeasement that the state government could not tolerate even a small scheme running in the name of a leader like Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was the creator of Jharkhand,” Mr. Marandi said.

Supporting Mr. Marandi’s statement, Mr. Jaiswal asserted that the State Government could have started some other scheme in the name of Mother Teresa but this government is neck deep in appeasement.

He further accused that by opposing voter revision, the Government wants to continue protecting Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims.

Asked about the issue which would be raised in the monsoon, the Chief Whip said that apart from name changing issue, the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and the increasing atrocities against women will also be raised in the house.

Jharkhand Health Minister and Congress MLA Irfan Ansari termed the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration baseless stressing even during the Assembly elections in Jharkhand, BJP had raised this issue. 

He alleged that Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting the SIR on the instruction of BJP government at the Centre because they want to snatch the right to vote from the common people.