This Article is From Aug 22, 2014

'Rape of the Democratic System,' Says Jharkhand Chief Minister About Being Booed

'Rape of the Democratic System,' Says Jharkhand Chief Minister About Being Booed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi on August 21

Ranchi: After Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was booed off by a section of a crowd at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's function in Ranchi on Thursday, Mr Soren described the incident as "rape of the democratic system." His party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has also demanded a public apology from PM Modi.

"The unseemly and disrespectful approach during my speech is rape of the democratic system," Mr Soren told the media, hours after being hooted by alleged BJP activists who even ignored the Prime Minister's wave for restraint.

"This way, democracy will crumble. What will happen to democracy?" added Mr Soren.

An official release also quoted him saying that he was deeply hurt by the hooting terming it "disrespectful, unseemly and contrary to democratic values."

"I was speaking as a chief minister in the Prime Minister's function. It's an insult to the state and its people," the release said.

Mr Soren was booed by a section of the crowd when he was speaking at a function to unveil a slew of developmental projects by PM Modi at Prabhat Tara Ground at Dhurwa area.

The incident was a repeat of what happened recently in other states, the release said.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his Maharashtra counterpart Prithviraj Chavan were hooted by crowds in the presence of the Prime Minister recently in separate programmes.

The JMM asked for a public apology and has even threatened that the party would protest every visit by any central minister to the state.

"The JMM demands from the Prime Minister to give up the desire to abrogate federal system for being individual-centric and render a public apology," a JMM release said in Ranchi.

The release also accused BJP activists of working as an organised unsocial outfit destroying Jharkhand's culture and tradition.

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