Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sita Soren became emotional while addressing Congress leader Irfan Ansari’s remarks about her . She declared the community has decided that he will not be allowed to enter tribal villages.
Sita Soren is the BJP candidate from the Jamtara constituency in the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024. She will be contesting against Irfan Ansari, an INDIA Bloc candidate.
Ansari stirred a controversy after he called Sita Soren a “rejected” and a “borrowed” player.
Recalling her late husband Durga Soren’s role in the movement for Jharkhand state, she asked can such remarks be made against her, just because her husband is no more.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Sita said, “I will not forgive him. The way he made a comment against me, does he not know who I am, whose wife I am, and which house I belong to? My father-in-law and husband started an agitation for Jharkhand. All of our community and the women are hurt.”
She also asked the INDIA bloc to take responsibility for Ansari’s statement, as he is a minister in the Jharkhand government.
“Our community has decided that he will not be allowed to enter Adivasi villages. Irfan Ansari is a minister in the INDIA Alliance government. It is also the responsibility of those who made him the minister. There should be some discipline. Just because my husband is no more,” said Soren while breaking into a sob.
The BJP leader was later consoled by some women after her breakdown.
Earlier on Saturday, Sita Soren said that the BJP has complained to the Election Commission about Ansari’s remarks and he will not be forgiven.
“I am unable to understand where he gets the courage to make such statements. Who is giving him the courage to make such remarks, because no one has ever made such statements against me in Jharkhand?The party has informed the Election Commission about his statement. We will not forgive him. The entire tribal population is angry,” Sita Soren told ANI.
Following this, Jharkhand Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Neha Arora on Saturday said that an FIR was registered against Ansari for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Sita Soren.
Union Minister Annapurna Devi said the statement made by Irfan Ansari “exposes” the “mentality” of the Congress party.
Assam Chief Minister and BJP’s co-incharge of the Jharkhand polls, Himanta Biswa Sarma lashed out at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for not taking action against Irfan Ansari over his derogatory comments on his sister-in-law Sita Soren.
“Our party condemns the words used by Irfan Ansari against Sita Soren. But I want to condemn Hemant Soren more for not taking action against someone who made such objectionable statements against his sister-in-law,” Sarma told reporters on Saturday.
“Adivasi dignity is nothing for CM Soren…The daughter-in-law of Shibbu Soren is insulted and Hemant Soren says nothing…Adivasi people will teach them a lesson in the elections,” he added.
The BJP will contest the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). While BJP will contest 68 seats, AJSU will contest 10 seats, and JD(U) and LJP will contest two and one seat respectively.
The elections for the 81 assembly seats of Jharkhand will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20. The counting of votes will be done on November 23.
