by Ashis Sinha
Ranchi: The recent Lok Sabha election results serve as retribution for the wrongful death of 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights campaigner Father Stan Swamy, according to jailed former Chief Minister Hemant Soren. In a Facebook post, Soren criticized the BJP, alleging that they are attempting to turn Jharkhand into another Manipur.
Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, echoed these sentiments in her own post, suggesting that Jharkhand could face a similar fate as Manipur. Hemant Soren shared a lengthy post along with a photograph of himself with Father Stan Swamy on Facebook.
In his message, Soren claimed that the Lok Sabha election results were a form of payback for the unjust death of Father Stan Swamy. He described Swamy’s death as a dark mark on India’s democracy and human rights, and suggested that the election outcome marked the beginning of retribution.
Soren’s statement emphasized that Father Stan Swamy, who had been a staunch advocate for tribal rights for decades, was denied bail and adequate medical care by the BJP administration. Despite his advanced age and Parkinson’s disease, Swamy faced spurious terrorism allegations.
“He wasn’t even given a straw worth 25 paise to drink water. Swamy’s death criminalizes human rights,” the post read. Father Stan Swamy died in prison on July 5, 2021, under what were described as deplorable prison conditions. Soren’s post accused the BJP of suppressing opposition and tribal voices under the guise of fighting terrorism and criminalizing human rights activities.
“Father Stan, who spoke up for the most vulnerable, was silenced by institutional indifference and injustice. Today, Hemant Soren faces similar oppression,” Kalpana Soren stated. She called on every resident of Jharkhand to support Hemant Soren, warning that failing to do so could lead to Jharkhand becoming like Manipur.
