The Impressive TimesRANCHI, Dec 28, 2023– Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that he would attend the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if extended an invitation. Addressing media representatives at his residence on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the JMM-Congress-RJD combine government, Soren also emphasized that the question of a prime ministerial face for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections was irrelevant.
“I haven’t received an invitation to date (for the Ram Temple inauguration event). However, if I receive an invitation, I would try to go because I regularly visit religious places, including temples and mosques,” Soren stated.
Backing the recent statement by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar that having a prime ministerial face for the INDIA bloc was immaterial, Soren asserted that people, through democratic processes, transform leaders into ‘faces.’
“In my view, in democracy, it is people who transform anyone into a face. Even those who have become a face were elected by people. If you go through history, it is a recent phenomenon that we have started talking about having a face. It is immaterial,” said Soren.
Responding to questions about his failure to appear before the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) despite six summons, Soren insisted that he was abiding by the rule of law.
“Isn’t the country run by the rule of law? Doesn’t the ED also operate as per the law?” Soren questioned. He further addressed speculation about ED’s involvement to influence his association with the INDIA bloc, stating that those thinking they could threaten him were making a grave mistake.
Soren also responded to inquiries about a potential return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by asserting that the question was unwarranted. He emphasized the historical nature of democracy, where opponents are not treated as enemies, citing instances during the regimes of former prime ministers such as AB Vajpayee, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi.
Expressing his preference for a return to the ballot system over electronic voting machines (EVMs), Soren stated, “I am in favor of doing away with EVMs and getting back to the ballot system.” He highlighted that many countries have abandoned the EVM system, and he believes a return to the traditional ballot system is a more viable option.
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