In his first election campaign in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and its ally, the Congress, of looting the natural resources of the State.
Addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa for the BJP’s Singhbhum candidate Geeta Koda and Khunti nominee Arjun Munda, Mr. Modi alleged that there was a race going on between the Congress and the JMM to loot the State and commit corruption.
Polling will start in the State in the fourth phase on May 13. Both Singhbhum and Khunti will vote then.
Without naming anyone, Mr. Modi said, “Our tribal brothers and sisters have the right over the water, forest and land of Jharkhand, but the JMM and the Congress consider it their fiefdom. This is the reason why every resource of Jharkhand is being openly looted. The entire State’s minerals are being looted through illegal mining.”
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He further said, “After looting the lands of the tribals, they have their eyes set on the lands of our country’s Army. Such a big land scam has been committed by the JMM. The Congress and the JMM have hurt the honour of Jharkhand.”
Mr. Modi was taking a dig at JMM leader and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren who is in jail in a money laundering case. The case pertains to the purchase of 8.5 acres of land allegedly by Mr. Soren. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating several cases related to illegal mining as well as illegal sale and purchase of Army land.
“There is a race going on between the Congress and the JMM to loot and commit corruption. Over ₹300 crore was recovered from the residence of a Congress MP. Even machines had to be brought from banks to count the notes,” Mr. Modi said. He was referring to the searches conducted by the Income Tax department at places linked to a Odisha-based distillery group owned by Congress MP from Jharkhand Dhiraj Sahu, during which officials recovered ₹350 crore in cash.
‘First priority for tribals’
For the BJP, the development of tribals is the first priority, Mr. Modi said. He recalled that Jharkhand was created by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The move was strongly opposed by the Congress then, he said. [The State was carved out of Bihar in 2000].
“The Congress never respected the sacrifices of the tribals, the Congress wants to give the entire credit of independence to only one family, but it is the BJP, which has given another identity to the birth of [tribal freedom fighter] Birsa Munda – we have started celebrating this day as Tribal Pride Day,” Mr. Modi said.
Attacking the INDIA (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance) bloc, Mr. Modi said the “INDI” alliance had betrayed Jharkhand the most.
“The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which opposed Statehood for Jharkhand the most and committed the most atrocities here, is in alliance with the JMM today. They brought jungle raj (lawlessness) in Bihar. The INDI alliance wants to bring the same jungle raj to Jharkhand as well,” Mr Modi said
He also listed several schemes of the Centre that were launched in Jharkhand such as Ayushman Bharat and Mudra Scheme.
Mr. Modi said the Congress did not show respect to the history of the tribals, whereas the BJP and Jharkhand had a heart-to-heart relationship. Only the BJP could understand Jharkhand and the sentiments of its people, he said.
He criticised the Congress for opposing the candidature of Droupadi Murmu, a tribal, for the President’s post. Mr. Modi reiterated that the Congress wanted to give reservation to the Muslims on the basis of religion.
After the rally, a roadshow was also organised in Ranchi. Mr. Modi will halt at Ranchi for night. On Saturday, he will address a public meeting in Palamu.
