Amit Shah promises to expel 'infiltrators' and protect tribal land if BJP wins Jharkhand elections

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a large rally in Seraikela on Monday, outlining the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) agenda for Jharkhand if the party wins the upcoming state assembly elections. In his speech, Shah promised that the BJP would create a panel to identify and expel "infiltrators" from Jharkhand, particularly those accused of acquiring land by marrying tribal women. Shah claimed that these infiltrators, whom he did not specifically name, were exploiting the legal and social framework to usurp tribal land through marriages with indigenous women.

Shah emphasized that the BJP government would introduce legislation to prevent the transfer of land to these infiltrators. “We will bring legislation to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women,” Shah stated. He said that the BJP would work toward reclaiming any land that was transferred or occupied by these individuals, promising to return it to the tribal population. This proposal, according to Shah, is aimed at protecting the interests of the tribal people in the state, who he argued have been adversely affected by the encroachment on their land.

Shah also raised concerns about the demographic changes in Jharkhand, claiming that the tribal population is in decline due to the alleged infiltration. According to him, these infiltrators are targeting tribal women for marriage as a strategy to gain access to valuable land. The Home Minister did not offer specific figures, but he described the practice as a form of exploitation that has led to the loss of land and resources for Jharkhand's indigenous population. The proposed legislation would focus on preventing further land transfers to such individuals and facilitating the return of the land to tribal communities.

Additionally, Shah made a reference to former Chief Minister Champai Soren’s resignation earlier this year. He claimed that Soren was forced to step down after raising the issue of infiltration in Jharkhand. Champai Soren, a former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, resigned from his post after Hemant Soren, his successor and cousin, was granted bail. Champai Soren later joined the BJP. Shah suggested that Soren’s departure was connected to the pressure surrounding the issue of illegal infiltration, which the BJP continues to highlight as a critical concern in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is a prominent campaigner for the BJP, also participated in the rallies, where he accused the JMM-led coalition government of allowing "Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators" to settle in Jharkhand. Adityanath claimed that the state had become a refuge for these groups, resulting in social unrest and security concerns. He also attacked the JMM-led government for mismanaging the state’s natural resources, stating that the BJP was the only party capable of securing the state’s future. Adityanath emphasized that the BJP would focus on ensuring security, women’s empowerment, and youth employment if they came to power. The Jharkhand assembly elections will take place in two phases—on November 13 and 20—followed by the announcement of results on November 23.