Controversy crops up as BJP terms Soren rule Ravana Raj

Ranchi, Sep 30 (IANS) Controversy has cropped up in the state as BJP, the main opposition party of Jharkhand, has termed Shibu Soren's rule as 'Ravana Raj'.

The Jharkhand Chief Minister's refusal to light the effigy of Ravana on Vijay Dashmi prompted BJP to attack Soren and compare his rule with that of demon king Ravana.

'In Jharkhand, there is demon rule. Shibu Soren is incarnation of demon king Ravana,' state BJP president P.N. Singh said addressing party workers in Chaibasa district Monday.

He said: 'Refusal of Soren to burn the effigy of Ravana and accepting the invitation of Lankesh Mitra Mandal of Madhya Pradesh indicates that demon rule prevails in the state'.

BJP is also attacking the Soren government over corruption issue and worsening law and order scenario in the state.

The Punjabi Hindu Biradari had invited Soren to light the effigy of Ravana in Morabadi ground of Ranchi on Vijay Dashmi day. Soren refused the request terming Ravana a kulguru and great scholar. Since the creation of the state in November 2000, the Jharkhand chief minister lights up the effigy of Ravana on Vijay Dashmi day.

The BJP president's remarks have irked the Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress leaders. 'P.N. Singh himself is a demon of Kaliyuga. Why will Guruji (Soren) burn the effigy of Ravana who died thousands of years ago,' said Dulal Bhuiya, state land and revenue minister and a JMM legislator.

Echoing similar sentiments, Sukhdeo Bhagat, a Congress legislator said: 'BJP is indulging in low level politics. Soren had said it was more imperative to kill the soul of Ravana prevailing in everybody's mind and heart'.