‘Maati, Beti, Roti At Stake…’: Shivraj Chouhan On Bangladeshi ‘Infiltrators’ In Jharkhand

This election is different for Jharkhand as maati, beti and roti (land, daughter and bread) are in peril because “infiltrators” are grabbing jal, zameen and jungle from the tribals, said Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday.

Like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, both of whom invoked “illegal immigration” from Bangladesh at their poll rallies in the state, Chouhan said these “infiltrators” were the vote bank of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha coalition.

“What did it mean when Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir said if the Congress forms the government, it will give gas cylinders to infiltrators at Rs 450? This means that there are infiltrators present and these infiltrators are their vote bank…” he said at a press conference.

The Congress high command has yet to denounce the claim made by its state incharge Mir that the party will supply residential LPG cylinders to all people, including “infiltrators,” according to Chouhan, who is also the BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand. He paid homage to tribal martyr Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary, as well as other tribal icons such as Sidhu-Kanhu, Poto Ho and Phulo Jhano. “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,” he said.

The BJP leader said 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,” he said.

He added that when Birsa Munda was fifteen years old, he asked his mother for permission to fight against the forces who were stealing tribal land, causing hardships for the people, and committing crimes against them. Munda, who was born in what is now Jharkhand in 1875, fought against British control and is recognized for organizing tribal people against the empire. At the age of 25, he passed away while in British custody.Chouhan emphasized that Mir’s pledge to provide LPG cylinders to even “infiltrators” for Rs 450 showed that the ruling coalition acknowledged the existence of infiltrators in the state and that the Congress and JMM were supporting them.

“They have been blaming BJP for playing divisive politics but the fact was admitted by none other than Congress’ in charge of Jharkhand,” he said.

He expressed regret that Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and its president Mallikarjun Kharge, had not yet denounced or repudiated Mir’s statement, which was made on Thursday, November 14. He claimed that despite the Special Branch’s circular warning the police of the infiltrators’ actions, nothing was done to stop them. As they employ the foreigners as their vote bank, the Union minister claimed that leaders of the ruling coalition assist the Bangladeshi infiltrators in obtaining voter cards and government documents like Aadhaar.

“Are they not traitors? Is patronising and providing facilities to infiltrators a Congress agenda? Do they have rights to our mineral reserves? Did the Congress and JMM strike a deal with infiltrators to grab tribal land and play with the honour of tribal women?” he asked, adding that they should make their stand clear.

As part of the BJP’s significant electoral plank infiltration in the Santhal Pargana region, he voiced concerns over the “depleting” tribal community and the “fast-changing” demographics. According to government records, the number of Adivasis in Santhal Pargana has decreased from 44% to 28%, he claimed, while in Pakur and Sahibganj districts, where infiltrators have taken over the majority in dozens of villages, the situation is same.