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Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India and a prominent figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has promised to release a 'white paper' on the demography of Jharkhand if his party wins the upcoming state elections. This announcement was made during an extended executive committee meeting of the BJP in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. Shah's statement is a clear indication of the BJP's strategy to target tribal voters in the state and raise concerns about demographic changes, which he claims are being driven by infiltration and a deliberate policy of appeasement by the current government. He has accused the incumbent Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, of being involved in 'love jihad' and 'land jihad', implying that these practices are being used to change the demographic composition of Jharkhand and thereby dilute the political power of tribal communities.
Shah's allegations are based on the claim that thousands of infiltrators are entering Jharkhand, marrying tribal women, obtaining fake certificates, and purchasing land, ultimately displacing local residents and taking away employment opportunities. He asserts that these actions are directly linked to the vote-bank politics of the ruling coalition, which he accuses of neglecting the welfare of tribal communities and instead focusing on expanding its base of support. This rhetoric echoes the BJP's broader narrative across India, which often seeks to link immigration and demographic changes to political and cultural anxieties, particularly within regions with large tribal populations.
In addition to the claims about infiltration and demographic changes, Shah has also launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing its leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, of exhibiting arrogance despite their electoral losses in the recent Lok Sabha elections. He has also accused the Congress of being involved in major corruption scandals, which he alleges have defrauded the public of 12 lakh crore rupees (approximately $146 billion). These accusations highlight the BJP's consistent strategy of attacking the Congress on the grounds of corruption, dynastic politics, and appeasement, while portraying itself as a party committed to good governance and national security. Shah's accusations are likely to resonate with BJP supporters in Jharkhand, but they have also drawn criticism from the opposition, who have condemned them as divisive and politically motivated.
Source: Amit Shah vows Jharkhand 'white paper' on demography to shield tribals