Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s co-in-charge for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, made controversial remarks on Monday regarding the changing demographics in the state. He alleged that the Muslim population is on the rise while the tribal population is declining, attributing this shift to infiltration.
In a statement to ANI, Sarma emphasized his concerns, saying, “I ignited fire against infiltrators. Lord Hanuman had also set fire in Lanka. We have to set fire against infiltrators and make Jharkhand a golden land.” He claimed that the increase in the Muslim population in the Santhal Pargana region raises questions about its origins, stating, “If families are not giving birth to so many children, then definitely people are coming from outside. This is simple mathematics.”
Sarma further declared the BJP’s intention to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the Santhal Pargana division if elected. He referenced a recent internal letter from the Jharkhand government, alleging that intruders were receiving training at madrasas and obtaining Aadhaar cards, which he claims supports his assertions about infiltration.
He concluded his comments by expressing confidence that the BJP would secure victory in the upcoming elections, stating, “We will win the elections, but that is not the main priority; it is to throw out infiltrators from Santhal Pargana and ensure justice for women.”
Voting for the Jharkhand assembly elections is scheduled to take place in two phases on November 13 and November 20. In the previous assembly election, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP secured 25, and Congress won 16 seats.
