New Delhi: Demographic change in Jharkhand is at alarming levels, claimed the state’s ex-chief minister and BJP president Babulal Marandi, promising that if a BJP government comes to power after the November Jharkhand election, it will implement the process of creating a national register of citizens and deport those who entered the state from outside.

In an interview with ThePrint, Marandi said that tribals, who once constituted 44 percent of the population in the Santhal Parganas, have been reduced to just 28 percent. Across the state, the tribal population has dropped from 36 to 26 percent since 1951 while Muslims have risen in numbers, he said, taking the party line.

Asked whether the BJP is bringing the “demographic change“ charges to create polarisation among voters, Babulal Marandi said, “This is not the case. Jharkhand demography has changed at alarming levels. That needs course correction by introducing NRC to the state.“

“Our demand is not for polarisation. Tribals have been most affected by the demographic change…where have they gone? The state government has many schemes for the welfare and protection of tribals. Despite that, the number of tribals has dropped. How is this possible? Even the number of Sanatani Hindus has fallen,“ he said.

“If any population has grown, it is the Muslims. Their number has mainly grown in the Santhal Parganas, such as Pakur and Dumka, i.e., particularly, the area adjoining West Bengal’s Murshidabad, which shares its border with Bangladesh. That is why our govt will bring NRC to identify them and deport them. Identification is necessary, or else tribals can not be secured. Continuous demographic change is an attack on roti, maati and beti of Jharkhand,“ he said.  

‘Sorens are Bunty, Babli’

Asked about the issues the BJP is raising ahead of the state election to make a comeback in the state, Babulal Marandi said, ”Issues of corruption, misgovernance, and demography change will defeat the government of Hemant Soren, who has now become a symbol of corruption in the state.”

“Corruption has engulfed the state at every level, even at the local level, where the common man reaches with their problems, people have to spend money to get work done. Without kickbacks, no work has been possible in the state. The entire government of Hemant Soren was involved in looting the state for five years. No development has happened, and the common man has suffered the most.“

During the interview, Marandi also termed Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, as “Bunty“ and “Babli“ and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha as “mudra mochan morcha“. “In five years, they did not fulfil their promises and, now before the election, they are making promises by launching schemes for women. It is like robbing the people like in the film Bunty Aur Babli,“ he said.

Claiming that the Hemant Soren government did nothing for people for five years, he said, “Before the announcement of the election date, Hemant Soren started to give Rs 1,000 to women. When we announced Rs 2,100 for the sisters and mothers of the state during the first cabinet meeting of the BJP (central) government, the state government wrote to the Election Commission about wanting to raise the honorarium under its scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2500 and passed it by the state cabinet. I want to ask how much Soren will dupe the people. Why have you not helped women in five years?“

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‘BJP works for tribals’

After Babulal Marandi lost the 2019 Jharkhand election, the BJP tried to make him the state’s Leader of Opposition. However, the Speaker did not allow his LOP status in the assembly. The BJP then made Marandi the party’s state president at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On why the BJP lost tribal support in the last election and how it has been preparing to get back the support, Babulal Marandi said, “People have now realised that JMM only speaks about tribals but does not do anything for them. The BJP did not talk about tribals but believes in working for tribals. Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave Jharkhand its state status, the tribal ministry was made, and Droupadi Murmu was made president…. JMM only works for power brokers and acts as the middleman, selling land, sand, coal and even stone. They even sold Army land,“ he added.

Asked if the BJP is confident about a return to power, Marandi said, “We could not achieve expectations in the last assembly poll but, after seeing the lead in Lok Sabha, the party is confident of getting power this time.”

“We got a lead on 51 assembly seats in the Lok Sabha election. Our party workers are tirelessly working to get 51-plus seats in the assembly elections,” added Marandi.

‘It’s not about CM but saving Jharkhand‘

Discussing the BJP’s strengths in the upcoming Jharkhand election, Babulal Marandi said, “The biggest strength is the organisational strength due to which the party has reached every booth of the state, unlike other parties. Prime Minister Modi’s ‘garib kalyan‘ scheme is the second-biggest advantage, with an impact on the ground. The BJP is also looking to capitalise on the anti-incumbency to turn around the story.“

Marandi also dismissed questions about being the CM face, saying, “This election is not about selecting the chief minister but all about saving Jharkhand.”

“Today, crime is rampant in Jharkhand. Infiltration has changed the entire demography, and corruption is at its peak. If this will continue in the state, nothing will be left. If we save Jharkhand, other things will follow. So, this election is not about the chief minister,” he said. “The BJP will select the CM after getting the majority, but this election is to save Jharkhand from those people who have duped Jharkhand and looted people. This election will decide whether Jharkhand can become one of the developed states.”

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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