Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday criticized the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance in the poll-bound state, claiming that “mati, beti, roti” (land, daughters, and livelihood) are under threat due to large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh.
As the BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, Chouhan also targeted the Congress, alleging the party has not condemned its state in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir’s statement. Mir had reportedly promised domestic LPG cylinders to all citizens, including “infiltrators,” if elected to power. “As soon as the government is formed, from December 1, the price of a gas cylinder will be just ₹450 for everyone, whether he is Hindu, Muslim, or an infiltrator,” Mir allegedly said in a viral video.
“These tribal leaders had made the supreme sacrifice to save ‘jal, jungle, jameen’ (water, forest, and land). But now, that land of tribal martyrs is in danger because of illegal infiltrators who were grabbing land and playing with the honour of tribal women,” Chouhan said during a rally in Deoghar, according to PTI.
Highlighting concerns, he added, “Adivasis became minorities in several villages in the Santhal Pargana region, including that of martyrs Sidho and Kanhu in Dumka’s Bhognadih. It is a now or never situation. So, it is not an ordinary election, not to elect a new government, but an election for Mati, Beti, and Roti, which are at stake due to illegal infiltration.”
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Chouhan further accused the Congress of appeasement politics, asking, “Are they not traitors? Is patronizing and providing facilities to infiltrators a Congress agenda? Did the Congress and JMM strike a deal with infiltrators to grab tribal land and play with the honour of tribal women?”
Despite the controversy, the Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge, has yet to respond. Voting in the first phase of the Jharkhand election occurred on November 13, with the second phase scheduled for November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.
