In a rally at poll-bound Jharkhand’s Seraikela, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a significant declaration, stating that if an “intruder” marries a girl from the tribal community, they will not be entitled to acquire land in her name. Shah targeted alleged “infiltrators” from Bangladesh, echoing earlier remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He promised that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins, it would pass a law preventing land transfers to such intruders.
Shah asserted, “Infiltrators are grabbing land by marrying our daughters. We will bring a law to prevent transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women. We will also form a committee to identify infiltrators to drive them out and reclaim land grabbed by them.”
Attack on Ruling Coalition: ‘Supporters of Bangladesh Infiltrators’
Amit Shah’s comments come on the heels of a similar attack by PM Modi, who criticized the Hemant Soren-led administration of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance. During a speech in Garhwa, Modi accused the ruling coalition of indulging in vote-bank politics by settling Bangladeshi infiltrators across Jharkhand.
Modi said, “The JMM-RJD-Congress government has taken appeasement to its peak. These parties are destroying the state’s social harmony. They are supporters of infiltrators.”
Amit Shah also criticized the JMM over the treatment of Champai Soren, a former JMM leader who briefly served as Chief Minister after Hemant Soren’s arrest on corruption charges. Champai Soren was dismissed soon after Hemant Soren was released on bail. Shah described this incident as not just an insult to Champai Soren but a slight against the entire tribal community.
“The way Champai Soren was humiliated and thrown out is an insult to tribal people,” Shah declared, highlighting the BJP’s attempts to strengthen its ties with the tribal communities, who have traditionally been a strong support base for the JMM.
Corruption Allegations: ₹1,000 Crore Jobs Scam and More
The Home Minister launched a scathing attack on the current JMM-Congress administration, accusing them of rampant corruption. He alleged that if the BJP regains power, it would jail the corrupt leaders responsible for a series of scams, including a ₹1,000 crore jobs scam, a ₹300 crore land scam, and a ₹1,000 crore mining scam.
Shah emphasized, “The corrupt leaders of the JMM-Congress alliance will be jailed if the BJP wins back power in Jharkhand.”
Financial Mismanagement and Seizures: ₹350 Crore Recovered
Referring to high-profile cash seizures, Shah accused the Congress of massive corruption. He pointed to the Income Tax Department’s raid on Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu’s home in December last year, which led to the “highest-ever” recovery of over ₹350 crore.
“Has anyone seen ₹350 crore? But this amount was found at the house of a Congress MP. 27 machines were needed to count the notes,” he said.
Shah also cited another raid in May, where cash worth over ₹35 crore was seized from the office of Alamgir Alam’s private secretary, sparking a political storm.
“Rs 30 crores were seized from Alamgir Alam’s residence. This money was sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the youth of Jharkhand, but the Hemant Soren government consumed it,” Shah alleged.
In his concluding remarks, Shah assured voters that if the BJP is elected, the party would ensure transparency and efficient use of funds. He stated, “If the central government sends ₹1 as aid, 25 paise will be added by the state, making it ₹1.25 that reaches the people.”
With these bold promises and accusations, Amit Shah set the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle in Jharkhand, targeting both the ruling coalition’s policies and its alleged corruption.