Jharkhand polls | BJP, JMM in political slugfest over UCC, illegal immigrants, Naxalism

The BJP and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Sunday (November 3) indulged in a political slugfest over a host of issues, including Uniform Civil Code, Naxalism and illegal immigrants, after the saffron party released its ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto) for Jharkhand Assembly elections.

Releasing the BJP manifesto, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that, if elected to power in Jharkhand, the BJP would introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, with an exemption for tribal communities. He also said that a Displacement Commission would be formed to ensure rehabilitation of people displaced by industries and mines in the state.

However, the JMM and its allies labelled BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ (manifesto) as ‘jhoot, loot and thag patra’ (lies, loot and fraud) and claimed that the saffron party has acknowledged its defeat 20 days before the election results.

Also read: BJP to implement UCC in Jharkhand, tribals to be out of its ambit: Shah

Uniform Civil Code

Raking up the issue of Uniform Civil Code ahead of polls, Amit Shah said, “Our government will introduce UCC in Jharkhand but tribals will be kept out of its ambit. The JMM government is making false propaganda that UCC will impact tribal rights and culture, which is totally baseless as they will be kept out of its ambit.”

Hours later, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren hit back saying neither the UCC nor the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be allowed in the state.

Soren emphasised that Jharkhand would adhere only to the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts to protect tribal culture, land, and rights.

“Neither the UCC nor the NRC will be implemented here. Jharkhand will rely solely on the Chotanagpur Tenancy and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts. These people (the BJP) are spewing venom and do not care about tribals, natives, Dalits, or backward communities,” Soren said at a rally in Garhwa.

Fuelling Naxalism?

Attacking the Hemant Soren-led JMM coalition for “fuelling Naxalism”, Shah asserted at another rally in Simaria that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government will eliminate this menace from the country by March 2026.

“It is time to oust the anti-Dalit, anti-tribal, anti-poor, and anti-youth Hemant government from Jharkhand, which is fuelling Naxalism for petty political gains,” he said at Simaria in Chatra district.

On the other hand, Soren launched a scathing attack on Shah over the issue, stating that the election being held in two phases was testimony that Naxalism had been curbed in Jharkhand, unlike in the past when elections were conducted in five phases.

Also read: Jharkhand Assembly election 2024: Major faces in the ‘family-dominated’ polls

Illegal immigrants

Shah also targeted the JMM-led government, accusing it of “patronising Bangladeshi infiltrators for vote bank politics” and asserted that if the BJP was voted to power in the state, it will enact stringent legislation to prevent transfer of tribal land to illegal immigrants.

However, questioning the Centre’s stance on Bangladeshi infiltration, Soren asked why former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh was allowed to land in India while the government raised concerns about security. “What internal agreements permit this? The responsibility for border security lies with the Government of India,” he asserted.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said, “The Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) spoke about infiltration and blamed Jharkhand CM (Hemant Soren) for it. I think that he does not understand the Constitution properly. Border security is the Union home ministry's responsibility and these infiltrations are happening because of him. He should take responsibility and resign from his post.”