GG News Bureau
Ranchi, 29th July. In a heated response to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s recent statement in the Lok Sabha, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) staged a protest outside the state assembly on Monday. Dubey, speaking on July 25, proposed that certain regions of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar be designated as a Union Territory to curb alleged infiltration from Bangladesh. His remarks included the formation of a Union Territory comprising Malda and Murshidabad districts in West Bengal, Araria, Kishanganj, and Katihar districts in Bihar, and the Santhal Parganas region in Jharkhand.
Dubey asserted that the Santhal Parganas’ tribal population was declining due to an influx of “Bangladeshi infiltrators.”
State Minister Deepak Birua, leading the protest, condemned Dubey’s statement as an attempt to divide Jharkhand under the guise of addressing infiltration issues. “The BJP has revealed its intentions in Parliament. We will not allow the BJP to divide our state,” Birua stated.
In contrast, BJP State President Babulal Marandi downplayed Dubey’s remarks as personal opinions, asserting that the party does not support them.
BJP legislators also joined the fray, demonstrating outside the assembly and accusing the ruling alliance led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren of protecting Bangladeshi infiltrators. BJP MLA Anant Ojha criticized the state’s handling of the issue, alleging that tribal students faced violence when protesting against infiltrators. The BJP demanded the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the region.
The JMM attempted to distance itself from Congress MLA Shilpi Neha Tirkey’s controversial statement about demographic changes in Jharkhand due to an influx from Bihar. “The alliance has nothing to do with her statement. We are Jharkhandi by birth and heart,” countered state minister Mithilesh Thakur.
Comments are closed.