‘Lack Of Work Opportunities Led To Migration’: Jharkhand BJP Chief On ‘Decline’ In Tribal Population

Jharkhand BJP president said that the lack of employment opportunities in the state led to the population's mass migration.

New Delhi: Jharkhand BJP president and ex-chief minister Babulal Marandi on Monday reacted to the allegations that the tribal population in the state has gone down over the years.

Marandi said that the lack of employment opportunities in the state led to the mass migration of the tribal population, reported news agency ANI.

"When such a large population migrates out of the state for labour, the population goes down. Had they received work opportunities there (in the state), not many people would have migrated. A lot of job opportunities could have been generated there, we have minerals and tourism. Had infrastructure been strengthened, law and order tidied, people would have received jobs there too. But the government is not giving much focus to it, so migration has increased," he told ANI.

While speaking to ANI, he also highlighted issues in the state and accused the incumbent Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government in the state led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren of being indulged in "corruption" and "started earning money soon after coming into power".

When asked about the Jharkhand Chief Minister being summoned by the ED, Marandi, who was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, said: "The Chief Minister (Hemant Soren) has also been identified (for indulging in corruption), and ED has issued five summons against him so far. But, he has not yet deposed before the investigators."

"I have even told publicly that if a person holding a constitutional post does not respect the ED, police or any law enforcement agency or its notice, the action should be taken against him in in accordance with the law otherwise people will lose faith in the law, and people will think that no action is taken against specific people," he told ANI.

Marandi also reiterated that "legal action should be taken against them (all indulged in corruption in Jharkhand), otherwise there will be a question mark on the ED and also on the law."

"If its not done, people will think that specific people are given special attention. If any person defies the law and avoids summons, action should be taken against him," Marandi added.