Ranchi, December 29: After taking oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand Heman Soren-led coalition government, in its first decision, dropped all cases against the tribals involved in the Pathalgadi movement and protests against the amended Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT Act) and Santhal Paragana Tenancy Act (SPT Act). This move came just hours after he took oath as the 11th Chief Minister of the state. Hemant Soren Sworn In as 11th Jharkhand Chief Minister Amid Opposition Show of Strength.

The first cabinet meeting under Soren also cleared formation of fast track courts to hears cases of rapes and other serious crimes against women and girl child, Cabinet secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh informed. The cabinet also cleared JMM MLA Stephen Marandi's name as the pro-tem speaker of the state assembly. Jharkhand: FIR Lodged Against CM Raghubar Das Over ‘Objectionable’ Remarks on CM Designate Hemant Soren’s Caste.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) led government’s move on Pathalgadi. “It is not appreciable at all to let off all the accused involved in Pathalgadi movement. Real conspirators and instigators, who fuelled this separatist movement, should face the legal proceedings,” said BJP’s state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The Pathalgadi movement began in 2017 when stone plaques were placed in more than 200 villages with warnings inscribed on it. The stone orders dismissed the authority of the state and central governments in their villages.

In 2016, then BJP government proposed changes in CNT Act and SPT Act. The amendment opened land used for mining and industries to roads, development work and other things and let to divisions within the party.

The Pathalgadis had accused Raghubar Das-led government of snatching the rights of tribal people after amendments were made on CNT and SPT laws. In total 19 sedition cases were registered against over 150 people.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2019 11:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).