The Bangladesh issue is now a constant topic in Indian elections. Bangladesh has been making headlines more than once in the Jharkhand assembly elections. Last September, while campaigning for the Jharkhand assembly elections, Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah had taunted that “Bangladeshi infiltrators will be hung upside down”. A few days ago, he came to West Bengal and made another comment about Bangladeshi infiltrators.
And last week, Assam Chief Minister and Jharkhand BJP’s election co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Jharkhand is turning into a “mini Bangladesh”.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has now strongly criticized the ruling BJP over the repeated issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators. He said that despite attacking Bangladesh in person, the BJP has sheltered ousted Sheikh Hasina.
At an election rally in Ranka, Garhwa assembly constituency, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president said that BJP leaders have a ‘double policy’ towards Bangladesh. He questioned why the Centre allowed former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power in the neighbouring country, to take refuge in India.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asked on what grounds Sheikh Hasina was given refuge in India?
Hemant Soren said, ‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he took oath, said that he would work according to the constitution. He said that he would give equal rights to all sections of society. I want to ask you, what is your connection with Bangladesh? Why was Sheikh Hasina’s helicopter allowed to enter here? Did you give her shelter?’
Two days ago, during the Jharkhand elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged at a meeting in Ranchi that the Jharkhand government was giving shelter to Bangladeshi infiltrators. He also attacked the tribal community of Jharkhand as being ‘gradually disappearing’.
In response, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday strongly criticized Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. He further asked, “Why is the electricity generated in Jharkhand being supplied to Bangladesh?”
Rejecting Amit Shah’s allegations, he said, “Guarding the borders and preventing infiltration is the responsibility of the Centre. The state government has no hand in this matter.”
Source: India Today
