The BJP pledged to enforce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jharkhand if they win the state elections. Jharkhand BJP assembly election in-charge Shivraj Singh, a Union minister, stated that the party is committed to safeguarding the land from unlawful immigrants who have entered the state.
BJP is preparing to unveil its election manifesto. This election is not just about appointing a Chief Minister or gaining power, it is also about rescuing Jharkhand. We are committed to safeguarding ‘Roti, Mati aur Beti’. Shivraj Sing stated that the rapid change in the region’s demographics is a result of the influx of individuals from Bangladesh.
In the past, over 44% of the population in the Santhal region belonged to tribal communities. Now, it has been decreased to 28%… These infiltrators are causing a negative impact on the population. The Hemant Soren administration is supporting illegal immigrants for the sake of winning votes… We plan to introduce the NRC in Jharkhand…
The NRC is a registry of every lawful resident in India, enabling the government to pinpoint and expel unauthorized migrants. The initiative was introduced in Assam for the first time in 2013-2014. The BJP has repeatedly brought up the issue of altering demographics in Jharkhand and blamed Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government for allowing ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’ to enter Santhal Pargana and grab land. The party raised concerns about ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’ reportedly marrying tribal women, purchasing land, and taking over jobs designated for locals in the state.
On September 12, the issue was also brought to the Jharkhand High Court by the Ministry of Home Affairs through an affidavit stating that the ‘Centre is monitoring and wary of the unlawful migration happening in certain areas of Jharkhand.’ The state government was criticized by the court last month for not providing any explanation for the decrease in the tribal population in the Santhal Pargana region. The comments were given in the court’s decision during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case focusing on purported illegal immigration from Bangladesh in the area, resulting in a shift in the state’s demographics.
Soren refuted BJP’s claims about demographic shifts in Jharkhand by advising critics to examine the demographic figures of nearby West Bengal. “They discuss the potential impact on the population makeup and Bangladeshi immigrants.” Earlier, he expressed his desire for them to retrieve the data from the Centre to determine the changes in district and state.
Last month, Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, along with other members of the Election Commission of India, visited Ranchi to assess the state’s readiness for the upcoming elections scheduled for later this year.The state BJP delegation met with the team and requested them to take steps to prevent alleged infiltrators from voting.
The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly will hold elections in November or December this year to elect all 81 members. The election commission has not made an official statement about the dates yet.