"He is a close friend of mine....": Mamata Banerjee vows to "unwaveringly" support the now arrested Hemant Soren

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee on Friday came out in support of Hemant Soren, two days after the Jharkhand Chief Minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. "He is a close friend of mine, and I vow to stand unwaveringly by his side," said Banerjee.

"I strongly condemn the unjust arrest of Shri Hemant Soren, a powerful tribal leader. The vindictive act by BJP-backed central agencies reeks of a planned conspiracy to undermine a popularly elected government," posted Banerjee on the social media platform "X."

The Trinamool Congress Supremo vowed to stand "unwaveringly by" Hemant Soren's side, and protect the democracy of this country "in these trying times." "The resilient people of Jharkhand will deliver a resounding response and emerge victorious in this crucial battle!" she added.

While addressing a public gathering in Krishnanagar on Thursday, Mamata Banerjee extended her support to the former Jharkhand CM without naming him. "They think they can scare us and send us to jail. Even if they threaten me and put me behind bars, I promise I'll break all bars and You must remember that they are putting everyone behind bars to win the elections...They say that we are all thieves, do they think that they are all innocent? They are Lord of theives," asserted Mamata Banerjee.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday in connection with the alleged land scam case. The Supreme Court on Friday turned down Hemant Soren's appeal challenging his arrest by the ED and asked him to approach the High Court instead. In the meantime, Champaign Soren was sworn in as the New Chief Minister of Jharkhand on Friday morning, two days after Hemant Soren's arrest.