Jharkhand

Sarfaraz Ahmed, an MLA affiliated with the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has reportedly stepped down, ostensibly to create an opportunity for Kalpana Soren's candidacy in upcoming elections.

The minister was present as the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony of the new building of a school in Hunterganj block of Jharkhand's Chatra district. 

Once implemented, the legislators will become the highest-earning MLAs in the country with a monthly salary and allowances of Rs 2.88 lakh. Presently, the MLAs of Telangana get a maximum amount of Rs 2.50 lakh per month. In the budget session of the Assembly, the legislators from both sides -- ruling and opposition -- unanimously passed the proposal for a salary hike.

Well, for finding an answer to it, let us have an insight into the history of the state. Jharkhand was carved out from Bihar in 2000. During that time, the National Dmocratic Alliance led by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power at the Centre.

Soren said that the Governor had returned the bill on the domicile policy and deemed it unconstitutional whereas a similar policy had been passed in Karnataka. He said that the policy was necessary to ensure the safety of the future generations in the state and his party would not back down from the fight for its implementation.

On ED's summons, the Chief Minister had reached the ED's zonal office in Ranchi at 12:05 p.m., from where he left at 9.35 p.m. His wife Kalpana Soren reached the ED office to pick him up after the questioning. According to sources, a team of three ED officials asked him about 100 questions on Thursday, and the Chief Minister can be again called for further questioning.

The Central Reserve Police Force and other central security forces have been deployed outside the office. Thousands of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers from different parts of the state have arrived in Ranchi to express their solidarity with the CM, raising slogans against the ED's action.

Both these bills will take the form of law if the Centre includes them in the Schedule. It is also to be noted that the laws included in the Ninth Schedule cannot be challenged in the court. Chief Minister Hemant Soren while describing the bills as historic, added that the previous government reduced the OBC reservation in the state.

Soren had earlier skipped the questioning and sought three weeks time from the ED. Agency sources claimed that they have sent him a fresh summons to join the probe. Soren had written a letter to the probe agency seeking three weeks time. He said that he had programmes to attend and hence he needed three weeks time.

The ED had had called Soren for questioning on November 3, but the latter had sought three weeks' time citing his unavailability. He is likely to be summoned for the second time after November 15, sources said. The ED can move the court for further action if Hemant Soren doesn't appear for questioning even after repeated summons.