Sahu described the comment as “deeply hurtful, unacceptable, and disrespectful to hardworking traders who have long contributed to society, particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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BJP state executive president and Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu on Tuesday demanded an immediate apology from Chief Minister Hemant Soren, accusing him of insulting Jharkhand’s trader community. The demand follows Soren’s statement at a Musabani rally, where he allegedly said, “Traders first hold your feet, then your neck.”
Sahu described the comment as “deeply hurtful, unacceptable, and disrespectful to hardworking traders who have long contributed to society, particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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He emphasized that traders continued to provide essentials like ration, medicines, and masks to the needy when government assistance was lacking.
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“Who gave the Chief Minister the right to demean Jharkhand’s honest, service-oriented traders?” Sahu asked. He warned that if Soren failed to issue an apology, traders could be compelled to take to the streets in protest.
Linking the remark to broader governance concerns, Sahu said the CM’s comments reflected an insecure environment for traders in the state, citing threats, extortion, and harassment. He alleged that mafia operations involving sand, coal, iron, and land were flourishing under administrative and police complicity, making business unsafe for honest traders.
Sahu also contrasted Hemant Soren’s leadership with that of former CM Champai Soren, calling the latter more sensitive and committed to public service. “While Champai Soren worked for the people, Hemant Soren has distanced himself from public welfare and engaged with questionable interests,” he said.
He further accused the current government of enabling large-scale exploitation of resources and dispossession of tribal lands, claiming these activities were flourishing under the administration’s watch.
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