In a significant development, Amar Bauri, the Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly, has accused the JMM-led alliance government of deliberately ignoring the issue of illegal immigration for political gain. The allegations come in light of an affidavit filed by the central government before the Jharkhand High Court, which reportedly reveals that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have entered Jharkhand through Sahebgunj and Pakur districts.
According to the affidavit, there has been a “sizeable decrease” in the tribal population in Jharkhand, attributed to “high conversion of tribals and low birth rate” among them. Bauri criticized the JMM-led government for allegedly prioritizing vote bank politics over addressing the issue of infiltration.
“The JMM-led government is engaged in patronizing Bangladeshi infiltrators in Jharkhand for vote bank and appeasement,” Bauri claimed during a press conference at the BJP headquarters on Thursday. He provided historical population data from Santhal Pargana to substantiate his claims, noting significant shifts in demographic patterns. According to Bauri, the tribal population in Santhal Pargana fell from 44.67% in 1961 to 28% in 2011, while the Muslim population increased from 9.43% to 22.73% over the same period. The percentage of Christians also rose from 4% to 20% in 2011, which Bauri attributed to infiltration rather than natural demographic changes.
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In response, JMM central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya dismissed these claims, suggesting that if there were indeed issues with infiltration, it would be the responsibility of the Union Home and Defence ministries. Bhattacharya accused the BJP of using the data to disturb communal harmony in Jharkhand and alleged that the BJP’s approach was aimed at communal polarisation ahead of the elections.
The controversy has further intensified the political debate in Jharkhand as both parties prepare for upcoming electoral battles.
