JMM hits back at BJP over illegal immigration

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India]September 13 (ANI): Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya on Friday said that the BJP is talking about “communal demography” because of the elections, adding that a “state of confusion” is emerging in Jharkhand over illegal immigration.

“The Central government filed an affidavit regarding infiltration yesterday in the Supreme Court case pending in our state. We have also read this affidavit. Before the next hearing, the BJP's statement came that the demography has changed and infiltration by Bangladeshis has taken place. Nowhere in the Indian government and its agencies is there any mention of Bangladeshis coming and living in the Santhal Pargana region. In this affidavit, the 2011 census has been used as the basis,” Bhattacharya said. The Central government has filed an affidavit accepting the presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Jharkhand.

“There is confusion in Jharkhand. Since elections are coming, the BJP has no problems, so they are talking about communal demography. What kind of game is going on here, why is the court being involved? And what happens in the court is being discussed in the party office,” Bhattacharya said.

In July, the Jharkhand High Court had directed the state government to take action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who had entered the country through the Santhal Pargana region. Since then, the BJP has been targeting the JMM government ahead of the Jharkhand elections.

Jharkhand will hold elections to the 81-member legislative assembly later this year as the current government's term ends in 2024. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has not yet announced the dates. (ANI)