Hemant Soren’s ‘Sheikh Hasina asylum’ retort to Amit Shah’s infiltration remark

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of fostering ties with Bangladesh while blaming the state for issues related to cross-border infiltration.

Addressing an election rally at Ranka in Garhwa Assembly seat, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) working president said that BJP leaders have “double standards” regarding Bangladesh, questioning why the Centre allowed former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take refuge in India after she was thrown out of power in the neighbouring country.

“Prime minister Modi bowed before the Constitution when he took the oath. He said the country would run as per the Constitution and all sections of society would get equal rights. I want to ask him. Have you made any internal arrangements with Bangladesh? I want to ask you (PM Modi), why did you allow Sheikh Hasina’s helicopter to land here. On what basis have you given her refuge?” Soren asked.

The Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing an election rally in Ranchi, accused the JMM-led government of patronising Bangladeshi infiltrators, while claiming that the tribal population was dwindling in Jharkhand and its demography was changing fast.

Amit Shah also promised that the BJP, if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly election, will bring in a stringent law to take back land from infiltrators in Jharkhand as well as to drive them out.

Hitting out at the Home Minister’s remarks, Soren questioned why electricity produced in Jharkhand is given to Bangladesh by the Centre.

“Electricity produced in Jharkhand is being supplied to Bangladesh, while people of the state are left to deal with the pollution caused by these power plants. Isn’t it the duty of the Centre to guard the borders and check infiltration? State governments have no role in it. Infiltrators enter India through states ruled by you (BJP). Why don’t you check infiltration there?” he asked.

“They (BJP) themselves admit that infiltration occurs in their state, yet they hold Jharkhand responsible,” the Chief Minister added.

Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will take place in two phases on November 13 and 20, and votes will be counted on November 23.

The ruling JMM will contest elections as part of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, having fielded candidates in 43 Assembly seats. The Congress has been allocated 30 seats, while the Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Lalu Prasad, will contest in six seats. Additionally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) has been assigned four seats.