JMM Writes To President Over CM Soren’s Chopper Delay Due To PM Modi's Security

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to intervene after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's helicopter was grounded for 90 minutes due to security protocols related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

The JMM argued that the restriction on Soren's flight, which covered a distance of 150 km, compromised a fair campaign environment. The letter pointed out that the Election Commission had specified a no-fly zone of 50 kilometers around the Prime Minister with a typical flight restriction of only 15 minutes for security purposes.

The letter detailed Soren's campaign schedule: he had a rally at Gudri in West Singhbhum district scheduled from 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM, followed by another at 2:25 PM in Bazaar Taat, Simdega district, both approved by the Election Commission. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had a rally at 2:40 PM at Chaibasa College grounds, around 80 kilometers from Gudri and 90 kilometers from Simdega. Despite this, Soren's helicopter was restricted from flying for more than 90 minutes over an approximate distance of 150 kilometers.

Commenting on the situation, Assam CM and BJP's co-incharge for Jharkhand elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma, defended the restriction, stating, "The PM, as the country's highest office-bearer, requires strict security measures, including a half-hour air traffic block when he arrives. Everyone understands this protocol. In Assam, we also reschedule our events when the PM has one nearby. If Hemant Soren is trying to politicize this issue, it shows his anxiety... He knows he's going to lose, so he's making excuses."

BJP state president Babulal Marandi also downplayed the JMM's concerns, saying, "These security measures have been in place for years, regardless of the party in power. We schedule our programs accordingly and avoid areas where the PM is campaigning that day, as helicopter flights are restricted until he departs. This has been the case since the Congress-led government."