Jamshedpur: Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being anti-tribal and termed his and Hemant Soren’s arrest as part of a political conspiracy.

Campaigning for INDIA bloc-backed JMM candidate Sameer Mohanty from Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday, Kejriwal sensing the sizeable Odia populace in the constituency (the constituency shares its borders with Mayurbhanj district of Odisha) also criticized Puri Lok Sabha seat BJP candidate and party’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra for terming Lord Jagannath as a devotee of Prime Minister Modi.

Recalling his old association with Jamshedpur, Kejriwal remembered his stint for a few years as a graduate trainee (GT) in Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur plant nearly 35 years ago and described the Modi-led BJP as anti-tribal.

“I feel nostalgic coming to the city. However, I would like to tell you that Narendra Modi and his party adivasio se nafrat karte hain (they hate tribals). Across the country, there was only one tribal chief minister Hemant and they have put him behind bars. We all know that after the court verdict, one is sent to jail but in this case, the investigation on the accusation is still going on and no court has pronounced him guilty and they put Hemant behind bars,” said Kejriwal.

Describing Hemant as a ‘great tribal leader of the nation’, Kejriwal said: “This is goondagardi (hooliganism) of the Prime Minister. They feel that they can send anyone behind bars. They sent me to jail without any court’s verdict and it is sheer blessing of Bajrangbali that I am out of jail and campaigning before you. Tomorrow they might even put Champai Soren ji (current Jharkhand chief minister) behind jail,” added Kejriwal.

Hemant was arrested by the ED on alleged money laundering charges pertaining to a land scam in Ranchi on January 31 night after his resignation before the governor. He is at present under judicial custody at the Ranchi Central Jail.

Kejriwal also praised Kalpana Soren (wife of Hemant Soren) who has taken charge of JMM campaigning and compared her as “Queen of Jhansi” fighting valiantly against Modi.

Terming both his and Hemant’s arrest as a political conspiracy of Modi, Kejriwal said that it has backfired.

“They thought that the AAP and the JMM would break away and they would purchase our MPs and MLAs and form their government. But it is just the reverse, the AAP, the JMM and its alliance partners (Congress-RJD) have become like one family and thwarted BJP’s attempt,” said Kejriwal.

He also exhorted the masses to vote for INDIA bloc candidates not only in Jamshedpur but in all constituencies of Jharkhand to ensure the defeat of Modi “which in turn will ensure release of Hemant Soren on June 5”.

Terming Modi and his party members as being proud, Kejriwal said they have started considering themselves as God.

“Yesterday we saw BJP senior leader and spokesperson Sambit Patra (BJP’s MP candidate from Puri Lok Sabha seat) stating that even Lord Jagannath who is the creator of the world was a devotee of Modiji. It is time for all to break their ego this time” said Kejriwal.

Sambit Patra on Tuesday clarified that it was “slip of tongue due to heat” and has decided to do fasting in order to seek forgiveness from “Mahaprabhu Jagannath”.

Kejriwal also reiterated the INDIA bloc claims that
if the BJP comes to power they would change the constitution and end reservation for ST/SC and blamed the saffron party for inflation and unemployment.

Jamshedpur constituency goes to vote on May 25 and has JMM’s Sameer Mohanty pitted against BJP’s two-term MP Bidyut Baran Mahato.