Union Home Minister Amit Shah has lashed out at the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, accusing it of facilitating the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into the state. Shah claimed the state government had effectively “laid out a red carpet” for these infiltrators, allowing them to settle in Jharkhand, seize tribal land, take away local jobs, and engage in anti-national activities.
Addressing rallies in various constituencies across the poll-bound state, Shah promised that, if voted into power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would take decisive action to deport these infiltrators. He emphasized that under a BJP government, no illegal migrant would be allowed to stay. “Let the BJP regime form. They will be deported, and not a bird will be allowed to cross the border,” Shah said during a rally in Potka.
In another speech in Hazaribagh, Shah accused the infiltrators of undermining local society, stating that they were not only grabbing employment opportunities but also marrying local women, thus altering the social fabric of Jharkhand.
Shah did not hold back in criticizing the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-RJD coalition, labeling it the “most corrupt” government in the country. He cited several instances of alleged corruption, including raids on properties linked to Congress leaders where significant amounts of money were seized.
He specifically mentioned a raid on Congress leader Dheeraj Sahu’s residence, where ₹350 crore in cash was found, and a raid on the personal assistant of JMM leader Alamgir Alam, which led to the seizure of ₹30 crore. Shah claimed that this money belonged to the people of Jharkhand, especially its youth and backward classes, accusing the state government of stealing their hard-earned money.
“The money that was looted from the people of Jharkhand, especially the youth and backward classes, will not be spared. Those who have stolen your money will face justice,” Shah asserted.
The Jharkhand Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. The state’s 81-member Assembly will be crucial in determining the political landscape in the region, which has seen intense campaigning ahead of the polls.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the JMM-led coalition secured 30 seats, while the BJP won 25 seats. The Congress won 16 seats, forming part of the ruling alliance. In the 2014 elections, the BJP had won a significant 37 seats, while JMM secured 19 and Congress just 6.
As campaigning intensifies, the BJP is focusing on issues like national security, border control, and corruption, with Shah promising a crackdown on illegal migration and a strong push for accountability within the state government.
