Ahead of Jharkhand polls, BJP MP reiterates claim of ‘Bangladeshi infiltration’ in Santhal Parganas
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nishikant Dubey did not provide evidence for the allegations, which his party has repeatedly pushed in recent years.
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Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday claimed that “Bangladeshi infiltrators” were responsible for an allegedly disproportionate increase in the share of Muslims in the population of the Santhal Parganas, reported ANI.
Dubey also reiterated his party’s claim that the share of Adivasis in the region’s population has been declining due to infiltration by Bangladeshis. He did not provide evidence for the allegation.
The Santhal Parganas administrative division comprises six districts: Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur.
The Union government in September acknowledged before the High Court that the share of Adivasis in the region’s population had decreased, but did not attribute this to “infiltration” from Bangladesh. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is in power at the Centre.
Despite this, Dubey – who represents the Godda constituency – claimed on Sunday: “In 1951, the population of Muslims [in the region] was 9%, today it is 24%. Throughout the country, Muslims have increased by 4% and in our Santhal Pargana, it has increased by 15%. These 11% are Bangladeshi infiltrators and the government of Jharkhand is accepting this.”
Dubey said that neither the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha nor the Congress were concerned “even if the Adivasi share of the population declines, if Adivasis die or if Adivasis are displaced”. He claimed that for the...
