‘Entire video edited,’ says Jharkhand minister after BJP steps up attacks over ‘offensive remarks’ on Sita Soren

Sita is the wife of JMM chief Shibu Soren’s eldest son Durga Soren who died in 2009. She joined the BJP earlier this year following a fallout with the family over the CM’s chair after Hemant Soren resigned from the post and went to jail in a money laundering case.

Stepping up its criticism of Ansari, the state BJP on Sunday submitted a complaint to Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, condemning the usage of the words against a tribal woman and demanding that he be barred from the polls.

“This comment is not only an insult to Smt. Soren but also disrespects the entire tribal society, especially tribal women. The use of such indecent words against a tribal public representative of Jharkhand state, which was created for the upliftment and respect of tribals, is highly condemnable. We would also like to bring to your notice that apart from this insulting statement by Mr Irfan Ansari, he has also registered a fake case in Jamtara police station to harass Smt Sita Soren. This step shows that the minister’s behaviour and words towards women lack humanity and decency,” read the letter.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, said in a statement, “If Hemant Soren has any shame or self-respect, he should immediately resign. However, Soren remains silent. If he cannot honour his sister-in-law, who holds the status of a mother, how will he protect the mothers, sisters, and daughters of Jharkhand? Such a person has no right to hold office.”

Dismissing the allegations against him, Ansari told The Indian Express, said: “The entire video has been edited. I consider Sita Soren my sister-in-law and never took anyone’s name. The BJP’s IT Cell is using this for election. The fight should be healthy and should not be degraded.”

Asked who he was referring to, he said: “That was not made against anyone specific. Bolchaal ke bhasha mein use kiye the (said in a colloquial sense).”

The entire episode began on October 25 when Sita Soren took to X on Friday and shared a clip of Ansari allegedly using indecent language to describe her. Later, Ansari shared the video, claiming it was the full video and he had not used his rival’s name anywhere.

The following day, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes wrote to the state Chief Secretary and other authorities demanding an action taken report on the issue. The same day, the Jamtara Police also registered an FIR against Ansari under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, under Section 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).

In response, the Congress’s district working president Vijay Kumar Dubey lodged a complaint at the Jamtara police station, alleging that the video circulated by Sita Soren had been edited to tarnish the minister’s image.“Despite this, it was distorted and presented by the BJP for political gain, which is creating a wrong impression among the public…(it) is also a conspiracy to mislead the public,” read the FIR quoting Dubey.