Jharkhand Polls: Champai Soren's X Post On Mandal Murmu Intensifies BJP's 'Bangladeshi Encroachment' Claim

Ahead of the Jharkhand elections, BJP's Champai Soren accuses JMM government of promoting Bangladeshi encroachment and exploitation in Santhal Pargana.

File photo of former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren (centre).

Source : PTI

With the Jharkhand Assembly election date fast approaching, the Bharatiya Janata Party is in full attack mode. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha turncoat in the BJP Champai Soren has now accused Hemant Soren's JMM of promoting Bangladeshi encroachment in the Santhal Pargana division of the state. The BJP has sustained a long campaign around the alleged Bangladeshi encroachment issue ahead of the polls. 

The former Chief Minister slammed the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), following the decision of Mandal Murmu, a descendant of the revered Santhal hero Sidhu Kanhu, to join the BJP.

In his X post, he wrote, “Mandal Murmu, a descendant of Sidhu Kanhu, the martyr of Santhal Hul [Santhal Rebellion against British East India Company], has joined the BJP. Do you want to know why a young man connected with tribal issues made this decision? To understand, you need to see the situation in the sacred land of Bhognadih in Santhal Pargana. On the way there, you’ll notice several newly built houses along the roadside, many bearing flags of a particular political party.”

Soren claimed that most of these houses belonged to Bangladeshi infiltrators, alleging that the flags assured the Bangladeshis protection. All accused that such "protection" encourages these outsiders to exploit tribal land, disrespect the dignity of women, and disrupt the tribal social fabric. Not mentioning JMM, he said that these flags warn others not to interfere with those who are shielded by a particular party.

संथाल हूल के अमर शहीद सिदो-कान्हू के वंशज मंडल मुर्मू भी अंततः भाजपा में शामिल हो गए। क्या आप जानना चाहते हैं कि आदिवासी समाज से जुड़े मुद्दों को उठाने वाले इस युवक ने यह निर्णय क्यों लिया?

इसे समझने के लिए आपको संथाल परगना की वीर भूमि भोगनाडीह की परिस्थिति को देखना होगा। वहां…

— Champai Soren (@ChampaiSoren) November 7, 2024

Soren further claimed that the Santhal land, for which his ancestors had driven out the British, is now being occupied by infiltrators. "In areas like Pakur and Sahibganj, the tribal population has become a minority, with villages like Jikrahatti, Malpahariya, Talwadanga, and Kitajhor losing their tribal residents due to the encroachment of outsiders who now occupy their homes and fields.

'Crime Capital Of India'

Taking a jab at the Hemant Soren government, Champai Soren accused the administration of ignoring tribal interests and filing misleading affidavits in the High Court to deny the "truth". He lashed out at the Hemant Soren government for opposing a High Court directive to establish a fact-finding committee on this issue, instead appealing to the Supreme Court.

Soren argued that the government’s actions show its priority is not tribal welfare but protecting infiltrators. "These infiltrators, involved in various criminal activities, have made Santhal Pargana the crime capital of the country. Police from across the country conduct raids in Jamtara and Sahibganj almost every day in search of drug peddlers, cybercriminals, gold smugglers, etc," he said.

Champai Soren also alleged that after joining the BJP, Mandal Murmu faced threats and posters were put up against him. He claimed that those opposing Murmu are afraid that they might be exposed as pretenders, hiding behind a tribal facade, and that their real motives might be revealed.

Attack On Congress

The former Chief Minister also attacked Congress, describing it as anti-tribal and anti-Jharkhand since the time of the statehood movement. Soren accused Congress of orchestrating violence to suppress the Jharkhand movement and criticised it for removing the Tribal Religion Code from the 1961 Census. He further charged Congress with blocking efforts to implement the PESA Act, stopping primary education in tribal languages, and pushing Jharkhand’s youth onto the streets, stating that the people of Jharkhand will hold them accountable.