Delhi, 4 August (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the passing of Shibu Soren. PM Modi hailed his passion for empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden.

In a post on X, he said:

“Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti.”

Soren was born in Nemra village, Ramgarh district, Bihar, India, and is from the Santal tribe. He finished his schooling in Ramgarh, where his father was murdered by money lenders' thugs. At 18, he founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh. In 1972, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) with A. K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, becoming its general secretary. JMM led protests to reclaim tribal lands, often engaging in forceful actions, with Soren known for delivering summary justice against landlords.

In 1975, he incited a campaign against outsiders, which resulted in eleven deaths, leading to various criminal charges against him, from which he was acquitted in 2008, although some charges from 1974 are still pending.He lost his first Lok Sabha election in 1977 but was elected in 1980 from Dumka and again in subsequent years (1989, 1991, 1996). In 2002, he moved to the Rajya Sabha but later won a by-election in Dumka and resigned from the Rajya Sabha.

As Union Coal Minister in the Manmohan Singh government, he faced legal issues related to the Chirudih case involving a conflict with alleged involvement in ten murders. After spending over a month in custody, he was bailed out and reinstated in November 2004.

On March 2, 2005, he formed the government in Jharkhand but resigned nine days later after failing to secure a vote of confidence. Soren lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections to Sunil Soren from the BJP. He passed away on August 4, 2025, due to kidney-related ailments after a stroke.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar