Amit Shah Targets Jharkhand Government, Promises Swift Action on Corruption and Infiltration
Ranchi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition, accusing them of welcoming Bangladeshi infiltrators and presiding over rampant corruption in the state. Shah, addressing a rally in Jharia, Dhanbad, vowed that once the BJP comes to power in Jharkhand, the party would identify and drive out infiltrators, calling them a “threat to the state’s security.”
“Infiltrators have been given a red-carpet welcome by Hemant Soren,” Shah said, emphasizing that a BJP government would ensure their removal. He further escalated his criticism, accusing the current coalition of looting public funds through various scams.
Shah made sensational allegations, claiming that members of the ruling coalition were involved in major corruption. “Has anyone seen Rs 350 crore at a time? Has anyone seen Rs 35 crore at a time?” Shah asked the crowd. He alleged that the money, looted by ministers in Soren’s government, was seized from the house of Congress Minister Alamgir Alam and another MP, with cash counting machines overheating due to the sheer volume of currency.
He pointed out that the money should have been used for the welfare of youth in Jharkhand, particularly in Jharia and Dhanbad, where people have long suffered from a lack of opportunities because of widespread corruption. “This is the money that rightfully belongs to you,” Shah said. “If BJP comes to power, those involved in these scams will be hanged upside down,” he asserted, promising swift justice for the corrupt.
Shah also accused the coalition government of being embroiled in several other major scams, including those related to MNREGA, land deals, coal, and liquor. He claimed that under Soren’s leadership, Jharkhand had misused Rs 1.5 lakh crore in central funds allocated for development. “The people of Jharkhand have decided to end this misrule,” Shah said.
Outlining the BJP’s vision for the state, Shah promised a series of welfare measures if the party is voted to power. These included an annual Rs 25,000 transfer to every mother and sister, gas cylinders at Rs 500 each, two free cylinders on Diwali and Rakshabandhan, an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,000 per month for youth, and the creation of one lakh jobs annually. Shah also vowed to fill 2.87 lakh vacant government positions and provide five lakh jobs over five years.
In addition, Shah promised paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal, property registration up to Rs 50 lakh for Re 1, and the establishment of 10 new medical colleges in the state. He also stressed transparency in recruitment processes to ensure that opportunities were available to all eligible candidates.
Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah contrasted the BJP’s track record with the Congress‘ failure to deliver on its promises. “Rahul Baba makes one promise after another, but can he fulfill them? Narendra Modi’s guarantees are etched in stone, and every promise made by him is fulfilled,” Shah remarked.
On the issue of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah asserted that no one, including the Congress’ fourth generation, would be able to reinstate the article, declaring that Jammu and Kashmir is now an inseparable part of India.
Shah also took a jibe at the Congress for delaying the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya for decades. “For 75 years, the Congress kept the Ram Mandir issue pending. But under Modi Ji, the temple was completed in five years,” Shah said.
Encouraging voters to turn out in large numbers for the second phase of elections in Jharkhand on November 20, Shah urged them to press the BJP’s lotus symbol so hard “that its impact is felt in Italy,” in an apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi‘s Italian heritage. He concluded by promising that Ragini Singh, the BJP’s candidate from Jharia, would put an end to coal smuggling in the region if elected.
With the election approaching, Shah’s fiery rhetoric reflects the BJP’s determination to oust the current government and take a strong stance on corruption and security issues in the state.