In a fiery address at an election rally in Ranka, Garhwa, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched a strong critique of the BJP, accusing the party of establishing ties with Bangladesh while unfairly blaming Jharkhand for issues related to cross-border infiltration.
Soren, who is also the working president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), questioned the BJP’s integrity, specifically pointing to the circumstances surrounding former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s refuge in India. “Why did the Centre allow Sheikh Hasina’s helicopter to land here? On what basis was she given refuge?” Soren asked, implying a double standard in the BJP’s stance.
His comments came in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent allegations that the JMM-led government was supporting Bangladeshi infiltrators and that the demographic makeup of Jharkhand was changing as a result. Shah vowed that if the BJP were to win the upcoming Assembly elections, they would implement strict laws to reclaim land from alleged infiltrators.
Countering Shah’s remarks, Soren pointed out that Jharkhand-produced electricity is being exported to Bangladesh while residents face the pollution from local power plants. He emphasized that it is the central government’s responsibility to secure borders against infiltration, stating, “Infiltrators enter India through states governed by you (BJP). Why not address the issue there?”Soren noted that the BJP itself admits to infiltration issues in their states yet continues to hold Jharkhand accountable.
The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly elections are scheduled for November 13 and 20, with results to be announced on November 23. The JMM is contesting as part of the opposition INDIA bloc, fielding candidates in 43 seats, while the Congress will run in 30 and the Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) in six. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) has been allocated four seats.
