Jharkhand Minister Banna Gupta Criticizes Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Over Infiltration Comments
Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], June 24: Congress leader and Jharkhand Cabinet Minister Banna Gupta criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, calling him a ‘corrupt leader’ over his comments on infiltration. Gupta stated that the central government is responsible for security and accused them of engaging in Hindu-Muslim politics and violence.
Gupta said, ‘It is their (central government’s) failure. We are not in BSF (Border Security Force) or the central government. The security is in their hands. The defense system is in their hands. Whose duty is to stop Rohingya Muslims? Their narrative is only to do Hindu-Muslim politics and violence.’
He further added, ‘He is the most corrupted leader, what else can he say? They are ruling the center, BSF and army is in their hands. If somebody is trying to infiltrate then the central government is answerable. They should resign from the government on a moral basis.’
Gupta also mentioned his visit to Delhi for a meeting to discuss the party’s preparations for upcoming assembly elections and the reasons behind the party’s loss in the recent Lok Sabha elections. ‘We have a meeting in Delhi. President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will discuss the reasons for the loss in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. We will also discuss the party’s preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in the state,’ he said.
Earlier, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had raised concerns about infiltration in tribal areas during a Bharatiya Janata Party meeting. He alleged that Bangladeshi Rohingyas marry Adivasi women to grab their land and questioned the Jharkhand Government’s measures against these infiltrators. Sarma stated, ‘The whole Hindu and Adivasi community is infiltrated. The Bangladeshi Rohingyas marry Adivasis women just to grab their land. There is a need to initiate debate on this topic with JMM and it should be asked from them what measures they are taking against these infiltrators. But they lack an answer.’
Sarma also commented on the role of the Central Home Ministry and the state government in dealing with infiltrators. ‘The Central Home Ministry can do everything but who gives them (infiltrators) shelter in the state? The Home Ministry’s work is limited to the borders. The state government gives power to the BSF to work within 50 km of the border, as we have done in Assam, the JMM government should also give full rights to the BSF… The central government does not have power inside the state,’ he said.
Jharkhand will go for the assembly polls at the end of the year 2024. Along with Jharkhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir will also undergo Assembly polls. The terms of the existing Jharkhand Legislative Assembly will end in January 2025 and the Election Commission (EC) has kicked off preparations for holding Assembly elections.
