Deoghar : Union Minister and BJP's Jharkhand election-in-charge, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Friday took a swipe at the Congress party for its contradictory stance on infiltrators, pointing out that their leaders have promised benefits, including subsidised gas cylinders, to "infiltrators", Chouhan also demanded that top Congress leaders clarify their position on these controversial statements, particularly regarding the party's alliance with groups accused of undermining tribal lands and security in the region.
Speaking in Deoghar, Chouhan said, "On one hand, these people say that we are forcefully creating an issue, and on the other hand, their leaders are proving that they (infiltrators) are here and I (the leader) will provide facilities to them. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge should answer. Do they agree with their leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir that gas cylinders will be given to infiltrators for Rs 450? No one has denied it to date... Is Congress-JMM's alliance with infiltrators who snatch the land of tribals and mess with Assam?"
The controversy began after Ghulam Ahmad Mir, during a campaign, promised that LPG cylinders would be made available at a subsidized rate of Rs 450 for all, including "infiltrators." The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is in alliance with Congress, defended the statement.
Earlier in the day, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said, "Mir sahab has clearly said that we will give it to everyone (LPG cylinders for Rs 450), we do not do 'jumlabaazi' (empty promises). We will give it to everyone - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, tribals, non-tribals, Dalits."
"In the eyes of BJP, infiltrators are Muslims... Mir Sahab said that we will give it to infiltrators as well, meaning we will give it to all those Muslims who are our citizens, original residents of this place. We are committed, we will give the cylinder for Rs 450, and people also believe in our words," he added.
Earlier, Chouhan had also lashed out at Mir's promise to "infiltrators," stating that it posed a serious security threat to Jharkhand. "Congress is announcing to give gas cylinders to intruders in Jharkhand. Congress Jharkhand state in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir is saying that we will give cylinders to intruders for Rs 450... These are those intruders who have come from Bangladesh to our country... I want to say that the state is in danger, and you all have to save it," Chouhan warned.
The controversy has sparked a political debate ahead of the second phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections, where voting will take place on November 20. The first phase of voting concluded on November 14 for 43 of the state's 81 seats. The election results will be counted on November 23.