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Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren dies at 81, PM Modi, President Murmu react
Shibu Soren, the tribal leader who played a key role in Jharkhand's creation and founded the JMM, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped the country's politics.
JMM supremo and former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren passed away, his son Hemant Soren announced on Monday. The JMM leader was 81.
“Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I feel completely empty,” Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said in a post on X.
Soren was on ventilator support and was receiving treatment at Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for over a month. He was hospitalised in the last week of June with a kidney-related issue.
Also Read: Who was Shibu Soren? Former Jharkhand CM dies at 81
81-year-old Shibu had been receiving regular treatment at the hospital for an extended period. He had been the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the last 38 years and was also recognised as the party's founding patron.
Born on January 11, 1944, in Ramgarh district's Nemra village in Jharkhand (then Bihar), Soren played a key role in Jharkhand's creation and founded the JMM and rose to prominence in national politics.
Apart from serving as the Jharkhand CM, Shibu Soren represented the Dumka seat in the Parliament from 1980 to 1984, 1989 to 1998, and 2002 to 2019. He also served as the Minister for Coal at the Centre.
PM Modi, President Murmu pay tribute
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among one of the first leaders to express his condolences over the passing of the JMM leader. Calling Shibu Soren a “grassroots leader”, the prime minister said the he “was passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden.”
“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,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
President Droupadi Murmu also condoled the death of the former chief minister and said his demise was a big loss in the space of social justice. She said that Soren championed the cause of tribal identity and the formation of the state of Jharkhand.
"The demise of Shri Shibu Soren Ji is a big loss in the space of social justice. He championed the cause of tribal identity and formation of the state of Jharkhand," Murmu said in a post on X.
