In a sharp political confrontation in Ranchi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's state chief, Babulal Marandi, launched a fierce attack on the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government on Monday. The controversy centers on the ongoing demolition of illegal constructions within the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) campus, an action being carried out under the directive of the Jharkhand High Court.
Marandi's Justification and Accusations Against the Government
Babulal Marandi, who also serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, stated that the demolition drive is absolutely justified and a welcome step. He expressed strong support for the court's order to clear the unauthorized structures. However, he quickly turned his criticism towards the incumbent government, questioning why common citizens should suffer due to what he termed a corrupt system under Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Marandi posed pointed questions about administrative failures. "When a common citizen buys a flat or land, it is the government’s responsibility to declare whether the related land is government or private property," he asserted. He further demanded accountability, asking, "If the land belonged to RIMS, then how did the registrar register the flats built on it?" He also referenced past scandals, alleging that even IAS officers had been jailed for manipulation of Army land, and claimed the present government's corrupt practices were fully responsible for the illegal constructions at RIMS.
JMM's Counterattack: Blaming the Previous BJP Regime
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was swift to respond to Marandi's allegations. Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya clarified that the demolition was occurring solely because of the High Court's order and not due to any initiative by the state government. He redirected the blame towards the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state.
"If Marandi thinks it is wrong, then he should go and tell the court," Bhattacharya retorted. He emphasized that the illegal construction happened when Raghubar Das was the Chief Minister and C.P. Singh was the urban development minister, both from the BJP. This statement directly challenges the BJP's narrative and attempts to frame the issue as a legacy problem from the previous administration.
Political Repercussions and Public Suffering
The exchange highlights the deep political fault lines in Jharkhand, with both major parties using the RIMS demolition issue to score points against each other. While the BJP supports the court's action, it uses the moment to underscore alleged systemic corruption under the JMM-led coalition. The JMM, in its defense, absolves itself of responsibility and points the finger back at the BJP's tenure.
At the heart of the debate is the plight of ordinary people who invested in properties now deemed illegal. Marandi's rhetoric focuses on this public suffering, framing it as a consequence of governmental failure. The situation underscores a recurring problem in urban governance: the proliferation of unauthorized constructions and the subsequent hardship faced by citizens when legal actions are enforced, often after years of administrative inaction.
