In an emotionally charged speech in the Assembly just before the big majority test, jailed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren said he would not shed tears today because the tears of tribals and backward sections do not matter.

Mr Soren, facing allegations of money laundering, resigned as Chief Minister on January 31. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate soon after. Backed by MLAs from JMM, the Congress and other allies, Mr Soren’s close aide Champai Soren has taken the oath as Chief Minister. He faces the majority test in the Assembly shortly.

Addressing the Assembly, Hemant Soren said Champai Soren has the full support of the JMM-led alliance. Targeting the BJP-led central government over his arrest, he referred to a night of January 31 as a “dark chapter” in the country’s democracy. Bringing a serious allegation against the Governor’s office, he alleged that Raj Bhavan “was also involved” in the events leading to his arrest.

Mr Soren said the alleged conspiracy to arrest him was in the works for long. “It was being cooked over a low flame. This was executed in a well-planned manner,” he said.

Invoking Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, Mr Soren flagged atrocities against backward sections. “What happened on January 31 was another example of that. The ruling dispensation’s hatred towards these communities (is on display),” he said.

The former Chief Minister said he is at a loss to understand the source of this hatred. “Someone close to them does not even hesitate to say that we (tribals) must continue to live in the jungle. We left the jungle, came and sat next to them and their clothes are soiled. They see us as untouchables. If left to them, we would be back in the jungle,” he said. “They have a problem that I travel on planes, they have a problem that I stay in five-star hotels, ride in a BMW,” he said.  

The remarks were an apparent response to comments made by a section of media that had suggested that Hemant Soren’s stay in jail would remind him of a “stay in the jungle as an Adivasi 20 years back”. The remarks have drawn a sharp response from JMM and other tribal outfits.

Mr Soren said he has not accepted defeat. “They feel they will be successful in their machinations. But this is Jharkhand, a state where tribals and Dalits have made sacrifices,” he said.

Mr Soren said the central agencies cannot do anything to those who stole crores and fled abroad. “What they can do is target tribals and innocents,” he said.

He dared the BJP to show proof that the 8.5 acre plot, which is at the centre of the case against him, is registered in his name. “If they can show that, I will quit politics,” he said. “I will not cry because the tears of tribals do not matter to you. At the right time, I will respond to their every conspiracy,” he said.

Mr Soren also targeted BJP leaders from Jharkhand “who bow before those with feudal mindset”. “It has been 24 years since Jharkhand was formed. Which party was in power for the longest time? All corruption started in 2019?”

“They do not want tribals to rise. They do not want us to become judges, IPS or IAS officers. They do not want us to become leaders,” he said, adding that he knew that hurdles will be created to ensure that he does not complete his five-year term.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sparred in Parliament Monday over allegations non-BJP state governments – specifically those in South India – are “deprived of their (financial) dues” and allocations, including those related to GST compensation.

An incensed Ms Sitharaman hit back, explaining “devolution to states… happens as per Finance Commission recommendation”, and that she had no “discretion” in allocation of tax revenues. She also slammed the allegations as a “politically-vitiated narrative” being spread by “vested interest groups”.

The exchange came at the tail end of a debate on the “financial viability of states/union territories”, and was triggered by Mr Chowdhury, the Congress’ leader in the Lok Sabha accusing Ms Sitharaman, and the ruling BJP, of “arbitrary” and “discrimination” position towards opposition-ruled states.

“The latest example is Karnataka… where entire ministry has been agitating against the indiscriminate attitude of your administration. Few months ago everything was hunky dory. But, after the new government (came), since then trouble has started,” the Congress leader began.

He was referring to comments by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last week about “step-motherly treatment of the state – which the Congress won in the May 2023 election – in 2024 Interim Budget. The Chief Minister and his deputy, DK Shivakumar hit out over a lack of allocations by Ms Sitharaman, and alleged revenue loss of over Rs 11,000 crore under the 15th Finance Commission.

The Karnataka leaders are due to hold a protest in Delhi on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister began with a short explainer on GST and its three primary components – SGST, or State Goods and Services Tax; IGST, or Integrated Goods and Services Tax (levied on interstate supplies of goods and/or services); and CGST, or Central Goods and Services Tax.

“… SGST goes 100 per cent to states… this is automatic provision. IGST involves interstate payments (and) is periodically reviewed (and,) because states should get money in hand, it is divided and then periodically adjusted to actuals. CGST is divided as per Finance Commission,” she told Parliament.

“I want to humbly submit… so Adhirji please understand… I don’t have the right to change (allocations) as per my whims and fancies… or because I like a state (government) or if another is ‘against’ my party politics. No way!” Ms Sitharaman said decisively, “I have no role…”

“I have to follow 100 per cent (the Finance Commission recommendations) and that is what every Finance Minister does. When there is a recommendation, it is done without fear or favour.”

“So this apprehension… that some states are being discriminated against… is a politically-vitiated narrative that, I am sorry to say is (because) vested interests are happy to go about saying it.”

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An increasingly furious Ms Sitharaman shot down the claims, saying, “There is just no possibility of any Finance Minister intervening, and saying, ‘I don’t like this state, so stop payment. No way.”

The Finance Minister then ripped into the Congress leader’s “hunky dory” claims.

“Adhirji is saying that till six months ago everything was ‘hunky dory’. If that was so then what went wrong? Have you started spending on items you are not supposed to spend? I am not questioning that… but you spent it, so don’t put the blame on centre, because it goes by the rule book.”

Ms Sitharaman, who seemed to be increasingly exasperated by Mr Chowdhury’s interruptions, concluded by trying to shout down the Congress leader, saying, “I can’t do anything if Finance Commission doesn’t tell me to do… Adhirji, please don’t imagine I have any discretion.”

“Please talk to the Finance Commission…” she said with a namaste as she sat down.

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The Champai Soren government in Jharkhand comfortably passed the majority test in Assembly this afternoon, getting 47 votes in the 81-member Assembly. With one MLA resigning last month, the majority mark in the Assembly was 41.

The ruling coalition comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal had earlier expressed confidence that they would sail through. Twenty-nine votes were cast against the Champai Soren government.

The floor test in Jharkhand Assembly was held in the wake of dramatic developments in the tribal-dominated state, starting from former Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s late-night resignation, followed by his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, on January 31. Hemant Soren is being investigated by the central agency in a money laundering case. The JMM leader has denied the allegations and termed them a BJP conspiracy.

The ruling JMM-Congress coalition backed Champai Soren to succeed Hemant Soren. The long-time aide of Shibu Soren took oath as Chief Minister on Saturday with two deputies.

Hemant Soren was present in Assembly for the floor test with court’s permission. In his remarks ahead of the floor test, Champai Soren said he would his government like “Hemant Soren part – II”.

In his emotionally charged speech, Hemant Soren hit out at the BJP-led central government, alleging a “slow-cooked” conspiracy to jail him. He did not spare the Governor either, accusing the Raj Bhavan of involvement in this conspiracy. Earlier, the JMM and Congress had questioned the delay in the Jharkhand Governor inviting Champai Soren to form the government, despite the ruling coalition staking claim soon after Hemant Soren’s resignation. 

The former Chief Minister also dared the BJP to produce evidence against him in the land irregularities case he has been arrested in. “Show me the proof and I will quit politics,” he said.

In a strong charge for tribals, Mr Soren attacked the BJP and accused it of looking down on backward communities. “We left the jungle, came and sat next to them and their clothes are soiled. They see us as untouchables. If left to them, we would be back in the jungle,” he said.

Mr Soren targeted BJP leaders from Jharkhand “who bow before those with feudal mindset”. “It has been 24 years since Jharkhand was formed. Which party was in power for the longest time? All corruption started in 2019?”

“They do not want tribals to rise. They do not want us to become judges, IPS or IAS officers. They do not want us to become leaders,” he said, adding that he knew that hurdles will be created to ensure that he does not complete his five-year term.