Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren describes BJP as 'loot' party

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday alleged that the BJP was a party of "loot", a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people in Santhal Pargana region to throw "looters" out of power in the ensuing Assembly elections.

"BJP ek lootera party hei (BJP is a party of loot)," Soren said while addressing separate meetings in Pakur and Maheshpur Assembly constituencies.

"They have eyes on mineral resources of Jharkhand," Soren said, alleging the resources would be given to traders from outside Jharkhand. His response comes a day after Modi's speech in neighbouring Dumka, where the Prime Minister had appealed to the electorate to throw "looters" out of power by giving BJP a 2/3rd majority.

Appealing to vote for the JMM and strengthen it to help develop the state, Soren further alleged that the Congress had "cheated" the tribals.

"Both BJP and Congress are opportunistic parties," added Soren. The JMM is now ruling Jharkhand with the support of Congress, RJD and JDU and had been in the previous seventh and eighth governments led by the BJP.

Soren addressed at Murgatand under Maheshpur Assembly constituency for party candidate and former deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi and another at Jhikanhit under Pakur Assembly seat for Akeel Akhtar, seeking a re-election.