From Hope to Doubt: Jharkhand Muslims and the Hemant Soren Government

Ranchi: In 2019, when the Hemant Soren-led Gathbandhan government came to power, Muslims played a major role in it.

Muslims, the largest minority in the state, had witnessed several instances of mob lynching during the tenure of Raghubhar Das-led NDA government. Muslim officers were not getting plum or important postings. The BJP government did not do the work of community people.

So when Hemant Soren led JMM, Congress and RJD to form a government in the state, the community people thought some change for the betterment would take place. However, after almost five years down the line, the community is unsure of any changes made to make things better for them.

Political Representation

When Hemant Soren was jailed on corruption charges, everyone protested against the Enforcement Directorate and BJP-led union government, considering it a fake case. However, when senior Congress leader and minister Alamgir Alam was arrested, no such protest was staged by the Gathbandhan leaders. Nobody raised the question that the Personal Assistant Sanjiv Lal turned government approver of the minister was earlier with Arjun Munda and CP Singh. He was appointed by the government, so the two BJP leaders should also be investigated in the said case.

There were only two Muslims each who won from the JMM and Congress parties in Jharkhand in 2019: Alamgir Alam, Irfan Ansari from Congress, Dr Sarfaraz Ahmed and Haji Hussain Ansari from JMM. Alam is in jail now, and Ansari has been inducted into the cabinet. Dr Ahmed had to sacrifice his seat, from where Kalpana Soren became an MLA. Dr Ahmed has been compensated with Rajya Sabha membership. Haji Hussain is no longer alive and in his place, the party fielded his son Hafizul Hassan, who is now a minister in the Hemant Soren cabinet.

The Gathbandhan, which is now called the INDIA bloc, however, did not field a single Muslim candidate during the Lok Sabha polls.

Socially:  Work Done For All But Minimum For Muslims

Party leaders proudly say that they worked for all, and did not see who voted for which party. Muslims feel that their work was compromised while work of other communities were done. “Strategic silence was maintained whenever there was an issue in which Gathbandhan leaders have to take a stand for Muslims,” alleged a community leader requesting anonymity.

“People who did not vote, or voted for BJP or are supporters of other parties are either being given work or being made across the partyline business partners, leading to direct financial benefits to them. By this system, deserving partymen and especially Muslim caders are feeling left out,” he added.

The supporters of the INDIA bloc, mainly JMM’s, are now looking for alternatives like youth leader Jairam Mahto’s party JBKSS and AIMIM.

There is a visible resentment among the community members. On July 22, the United Muslim Forum held a press conference in Ranchi Press Club to put their demands before the Hemant Soren government.

Mob Lynching Law

Jharkhand government took the initiative to pass a law against mob lynching- Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill 2021 in the state. However, a year later, then Governor Ramesh Bais returned it, asking the Hemant government to define ‘Mob’ in it. The government did not resend  the bill after the correction. And the act could not be implemented in the state. The result: mob lynching continues to plague Jharkhand.

Tanweer Ahmad, a Ranchi-based social activist on July 12, wrote an open letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and highlighted several works that need to be done by the government, including resending a mob lynching bill to the Governor.

Ranchi Firing Reports

The police firing case that took place in the state capital killing two Muslim youths, the government was not seen standing with the victims. No action was taken against the trigger happy policemen, who fired on the unarmed protesters. At least two committees were formed but even after two years, they still have not submitted a report,” a Ranchi-based activist Nadeem Khan told eNewsroom.

“There was an issue of firing by some anti-social elements, and one Muslim youth died from another group’s bullets. Only a non-biased report can clear the picture. so the report should get public,” Khan added.

Urdu, the biggest loser in the gathbandhan government

In the last five years, the biggest loser under the Gathbandhan government is the Urdu language. Not only did the recruitment of Urdu teachers not take place, but most of Urdu medium schools have been changed to normal Hindi schools in the state. This happened under Jagarnath Mahto as education minister.

Meanwhile, it was in the manifesto of JMM to form a Madarsa Board as well as an Urdu Academy but they have not been formed yet.

In June, Imran Ansari of Farog-e-Urdu Tehrik met the newly elected legislator Kalpana Soren and gave a memorandum to her mentioning that there are 3712 Urdu teacher posts lying vacant in the state. It also pointed out that 544 Urdu schools have been declared normal schools in the state. The weekly holiday of Friday in Urdu schools has been changed and 60 days of holidays have been reduced to 53 days in the remaining Urdu schools.

“Because of all these issues, there is no enthusiasm among Muslim voters for the Gathbandhan or INDIA bloc in Jharkhand and if no major action is taken in this regard. There is no good news for the Hemant Soren government for assembly polls,” Imran told eNewsroom.