Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: In a strong statement ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that any ‘intruder’ marrying a tribal woman would be barred from acquiring land in her name. Speaking at a rally in Seraikela, Mr. Shah underlined the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) commitment to curbing land transfers to ‘infiltrators’—an implicit reference to alleged settlers from Bangladesh.
“Infiltrators are seizing land by marrying our daughters. We will enact a law to prevent such transfers and form a committee to identify and expel these intruders, reclaiming land they have acquired,” Mr. Shah stated to a cheering crowd.
This pledge mirrors earlier remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Garhwa, where he criticized the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress alliance for allegedly supporting “Bangladeshi infiltrators” for electoral gains. “These parties are tearing apart Jharkhand’s social harmony by settling infiltrators across the state,” PM Modi had remarked.
Criticism of JMM Leadership and Promises of Action
Highlighting past controversies, Mr. Shah accused the JMM of humiliating Champai Soren, a former party leader who became Chief Minister when Hemant Soren was jailed on corruption charges but was replaced once Hemant Soren secured bail. Champai Soren’s recent shift to the BJP has bolstered the party’s appeal among tribal communities, a core constituency of the JMM.
“The removal of Champai Soren was not just his personal insult but an affront to the entire tribal community,” Mr. Shah said, reinforcing the BJP’s message of empowerment and justice for tribal groups.
Allegations of Corruption and Commitment to Development
Mr. Shah also accused the current JMM-Congress government of widespread corruption, mentioning scams involving jobs, land, and mining that total over ₹ 2,300 crore. He assured that a BJP-led administration would ensure that government aid reaches the people directly. “If the Centre sends ₹ 1, the state will add 25 paise so that ₹ 1.25 reaches every citizen,” he promised.
Recalling high-profile raids, Mr. Shah referenced the ₹ 350 crore cash recovery from Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu’s home in December, which required 27 counting machines, and the ₹ 35 crore seizure from Congress leader Alamgir Alam’s secretary just before the general election. “This money, meant for the youth of Jharkhand, was swallowed by the Hemant Soren government,” Mr. Shah asserted.
