On Thursday (May 7), Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the latter had called to inquire about the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic in the State.
Since then, several Chief Ministers of States have come forth to condemn the petty politics that was played by Jharkhand CM and Congress ally Hemant Soren.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jaganmohan Reddy took to Twitter to condemn the tweet by Hemant Soren. He tweeted that such politics only harms the nation and while he considers Soren his brother, it is the time to put aside petty politics and come together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this war against Covid-19, these are the times not to point fingers but to come together and strengthen the hands of our Prime Minister to effectively combat the pandemic. 2/2
— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) May 7, 2021
He further said that in this war against COVID-19, it was not the time to point fingers but come together to strengthen the hands of PM Modi to effectively combat the pandemic.
N Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur too tweeted condemning the politics by UPA CM. He said that whenever PM Modi called, he had always been reassuring.
In my experience, whenever our Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji calls, it has been always assuring. I really admire his passion to understand the challenges Manipur had encountered.
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) May 7, 2021
Shri @HemantSorenJMM ji, let the collective spirit be our guiding light. https://t.co/5n3vmL5Co2
Prema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh said that it was time to stand together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are not safe, unless all are safe”, he said.
It has always been assuring whenever Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji calls. It’s time to stand together rising above differences to defeat this pandemic. We are not safe, unless all are safe. https://t.co/yMEMl8nVxc
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) May 7, 2021
The Chief Minister of Mizoram too to Twitter to say that everyone was lucky to have a responsible and attentive Prime Minister like PM Modi.
We are really fortunate to have an active, attentive and a very responsive Prime Minister like Shri @narendramodi ji in times like this.
— Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) May 7, 2021
I personally find it quite comforting, getting his calls; inquiring about my state’s Covid-19 situation, forest fires, refugee problems etc. https://t.co/uCdjqYvmMJ
Chief Minister of Nagaland said that he disagreed with Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and hoped he would retract his statement.
In my experience as a Chief Minister for several tenure, Honourable @PMOIndia Shri @narendramodi has always been sensitive to the concerns of the states, particularly of the Northeast states. I disagree with Shri @HemantSorenJMM and I hope retracts his statement. https://t.co/UrBVDDHuAw
— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) May 7, 2021
And finally, the CM of Assam too slammed the UPA CM.
.@HemantSorenJMM ji, it’s really unfortunate that you are trying to politicise the Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s concern and work for people.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) May 7, 2021
PM Modi ji’s every effort and action are only for the people and the Nation. https://t.co/RBkixevbgE
PM Modi today, had rung Lieutenant Governors of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, besides the Chief Ministers of Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh to review the ongoing vaccination drive and increase production of vaccines in the upcoming months. Following that, UPA CM of Jharkhand had decided to play petty politics.
In a tweet, Hemant Soren alleged that PM Modi did not listen to him and chose to give a ‘monologue’ instead during the telephone conversation. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called today. He only spoke his mind (Mann ki baat). It would have been better if he had talked something useful or listened to something useful that I had to offer.”
While Prime Minister Modi had called the Chief Ministers personally to take stock of the ongoing pandemic and the problems faced by the states, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren seems to have taken this opportunity to play politics instead and indulge in public grand-standing.
While opposition parties have targeted the Prime Minister in the most uncouth manner on several occasions, turning an administrative call into a public spectacle can be considered a new low.
