"Guruji gave Jharkhand its identity": Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari on Shibu Soren's demise

Ranchi (Jharkhand)[India], August 4(ANI): Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM founder Shibu Soren has passed away, leaving the state in shock. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the state owes its identity and recognition to Soren's lifelong efforts, calling his death a loss that cannot be recovered.
Speaking to reporters, Ansari said, "This is a great loss not only for Jharkhand but for the entire country, a loss we can never fully recover from. If Jharkhand has an identity today, it is because of Guru Ji's contribution... The state gained recognition because of him, but today we feel helpless... We are still in shock..."
Soren's daughter-in-law, Kalpana Soren, also expressed her grief in an emotional post on X, "Everything feels so desolate... Final greetings, respected Baba... Your struggle, your affection, your firm belief - this daughter of yours will never forget."
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Union Minister Arjun Munda said Soren's demise marked an "irreparable loss", underlining that he always remained on the frontlines of public struggles.
"The demise of Shibu Soren is an irreparable loss for the entire state and the country because he always strengthened public consciousness while remaining engaged in struggles and fought vocally to raise awareness about people's issues. His active role in the movement for a separate state can neither be forgotten by the state nor the country. Leading the Jharkhand movement while fighting against moneylenders and exploiters, he always served the people as a voice for the deprived and the tribals. His passing today has deeply pained us all. This is very distressing for Jharkhand and its people, and it has caused great loss to Jharkhand," he told reporters.
Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren, passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 81 on Monday morning in New Delhi.
Jharkhand Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren confirmed the demise of the leader in a post on X.
"Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I am devastated," Hemant Soren said.
According to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital, where the former Chief Minister was admitted, Shibu Soren was suffering from a kidney ailment. He had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago. He was on life support for the past month.
Shibu Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for 38 years and is known as the founding patron of the party. He was the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms. (ANI)