Hemant Soren Questions BJP's Alleged Double Standards On Bangladesh Asylum During Election Rally

Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, criticised the BJP for its alleged ties with Bangladesh. He questioned why former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was allowed asylum in India after losing power. This statement came during an election rally at Ranka in Garhwa Assembly seat, where Soren accused BJP leaders of having "double standards" regarding Bangladesh.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) working president expressed his concerns about cross-border infiltration issues. Soren asked Prime Minister Modi if any internal arrangements had been made with Bangladesh. He questioned the basis on which Sheikh Hasina's helicopter was permitted to land in India and why she was given refuge.

Assembly Elections and Political Alliances

The elections for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly are scheduled in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting on November 23. The ruling JMM is contesting as part of the Opposition's INDIA bloc. They have fielded candidates for 43 seats, while Congress has 30 seats, RJD six, and CPI (Marxist-Leninist) four.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently accused the JMM-led government of supporting Bangladeshi infiltrators. He claimed that Jharkhand's tribal population is decreasing rapidly due to demographic changes. Shah promised that if BJP wins the upcoming Assembly election, they will implement a strict law to reclaim land from infiltrators and expel them from Jharkhand.

Concerns Over Electricity Supply

Soren responded to Shah's remarks by questioning why electricity generated in Jharkhand is supplied to Bangladesh by the Centre. He highlighted that while Jharkhand faces pollution from power plants, its electricity benefits Bangladesh. Soren argued that it is the Centre's responsibility to secure borders and prevent infiltration.

The Chief Minister pointed out that infiltrators enter India through states governed by BJP, yet Jharkhand is blamed for these issues. He emphasised that state governments have no role in border security and questioned why infiltration isn't checked in BJP-ruled states.

Soren's comments reflect ongoing political tensions between JMM and BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. The debate over cross-border infiltration and resource allocation remains a significant issue as parties vie for voter support in Jharkhand.