Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma have accused the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Government of providing shelter to ‘Bangladeshis’ in the State. The BJP leaders, overseeing the party’s preparations for the upcoming Jharkhand elections, alleged that infiltration has altered the State’s demography.
Chouhan criticised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-JMM and the Congress, claiming the coalition government has severely damaged Jharkhand.
“This government has protected Bangladeshi infiltrators, significantly impacting the State’s demography. If this government is re-elected, original residents will become a minority,” Chouhan stated after a meeting in Ranchi’s Hatia.
Besides, Chouhan accused Soren of failing to fulfil electoral promises like providing jobs and unemployment allowance between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000, and monthly stipends of ₹2,000 for women.
The Union Minister asserted that a BJP victory is crucial to preserving Jharkhand’s culture, traditions, and values. He pointed out that the BJP had secured nine out of 14 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections and led in 50 out of 81 Assembly seats, expressing confidence in achieving ‘Mahavijay’ in the Assembly elections. Chouhan presented data indicating a rise in incidents of murder, robbery, rape, and riots under the current government.
Himanta Sarma added that ‘Bangladeshi’ infiltrators first enter Assam and West Bengal before moving to Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. He asserted it is the State Government’s responsibility, not the Centre’s, to prevent such intrusions.
“Changing demography is a significant issue. In Assam, the Muslim population has increased from 12 per cent in 1951 to 40 per cent today. We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me; it is a matter of life and death,” stated the Assam CM.
Himanta Sarma warned that removing Champai Soren as Chief Minister would be “suicidal” for the JMM, predicting the party would lose 10 seats in the election. The State’s demography was changing every day and a law to curb marriage between tribal women and Muslim infiltrators is mandatory, commented the Assam’s top BJP leader adding that ‘jamai tola’ is coming up on the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
A delegation led by Jharkhand BJP vice-president Rakesh Prasad submitted a complaint to the State Election Commission, alleging Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand, on Tuesday.
