Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Friday criticised the Centre over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a member of the Parliament following his conviction in a defamation case.

“The disqualification of Lok Sabha membership of Shri Rahul Gandhi ji demonstrates how political differences are now vendetta battles for ruling Central Government. In today’s Amrit Kaal Opposition leaders are unilateral targets of BJP, being coerced and silenced using every tool of power,” Soren tweeted around 4.30pm on Friday.

In another tweet, he said: “It is clearly evident Amrit Kaal in New India applies only to leaders and members of BJP. Whereas for the entire opposition and citizens of this country, itis Apaat Kaal”. Soren had on Thursday also used the word Amrit Kaal and Apaat Kaal while hitting out at the BJP and the Centre over Rahul Gandhi’s conviction during the budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly.

“It is difficult to comprehend whether we are in Amrit Kaal (75 years of Independence as observed by the Centre) or Apaat Kaal (state of emergency). The country is passing through a strange period,” Soren had said in the Assembly while terming the two-year sentence awarded to Rahul Gandhi by a court in Surat as a matter of concern for democracy.

Notably, the Enforcement Directorate questioned Soren in November last year in a money laundering case linked to illegal mining. His political representative in his home Assembly constituency (Barhait in Sahebganj district of Jharkhand), Pankaj Mishra, has already been arrested by the ED in the illegal mining and money laundering case.

Soren had since then made repeated statements before the media accusing the BJP-led central government of “misusing agencies like ED, IT and CBItoharassOpposition(nonBJP)-ruled state’s leaders”.

Later in the day, Soren took part in the Sarhul festival of the tribals at Adivasi Hostel in Ranchi and promised renovation of facilities in the hostel along with separate multi-storied hostels for boys and girls.

He also announced the upgradation of facilities at science and arts blocks of Ranchi Women’s College.