Forward of 2025 Meeting elections, Bihar BJP raises Bangladeshi infiltration

BJP chief and Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin speaks to the media on December 8, 2024. Picture: X/@NitinNabin

On the traces of Jharkhand, Bihar Minister and Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) chief Nitin Nabin on Sunday (December 8, 2024) raised the problem of Bangladeshi infiltration.

The Minister asserted that the Bihar authorities will take strict motion towards the unlawful immigrants taking shelter in Seemanchal areas the place Muslims inhabitants is over 47%.

Bangladeshi infiltration concern raised by the BJP in Jharkhand backfired and the get together noticed a humiliating defeat, successful much less seats than the final Meeting elections in 2019.

Holding in thoughts the Meeting election in Bihar due subsequent yr, BJP has as soon as once more began its transfer to construct momentum with the problem, which didn’t work within the neighbouring Jharkhand.

“Motion have to be taken towards Bangladeshi staying in Bihar. In Seemanchal area there’s excessive chance of infiltration. The assets of Bihar and India have to be utilised by the folks staying right here and never by Bangladeshi. These folks have to be recognized and motion must be taken,” Mr. Nabin mentioned whereas talking to the media in Patna.

Seemanchal, positioned in north Bihar, contains 4 districts: Purnea, Katihar, Kishanganj and Araria. The 4 districts symbolize 24 Meeting constituencies. Seemanchal is due to this fact vital for the 2025 Meeting polls each for the INDIA bloc and the Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar.

When the caste-survey was carried out in Bihar — the BJP was then not the alliance companion of Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) — the saffron get together had questioned the format wherein the train was carried out and termed it “flawed” alleging that it may probably “tamper with the citizenship register.”

The get together had mentioned that the method ignored the specter of counting unlawful Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya as Indian residents. Seemanchal is a border area with Nepal subsequent door and Bangladesh not far-off.

Seemanchal, which has a excessive focus of the Muslim populations, is taken into account the stronghold of the Opposition Mahagatbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar.

Within the just lately concluded Jharkhand Meeting elections, out of 81 meeting seats, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led INDIA bloc gained 56 seats whereas the NDA secured 24 seats.

Bangladeshi infiltration, demography change and corruption have been among the many main points the BJP stored elevating in Jharkhand throughout its marketing campaign.

When requested that the problem was raised by BJP in Jharkhand however didn’t work, Mr. Nabin additional mentioned, “This not a problem, it’s a matter of investigation and we can not tolerate Bangladeshi infiltration in Bihar.”

Nevertheless, alliance companion JD (U) distanced itself from the assertion of the BJP Minister.

“Nitish Kumar ji has already carried out the caste based mostly survey and its report is there in public area. Regardless of that, if anybody feels that folks from different international locations are staying in Bihar then it’s a matter of central authorities and centre ought to take care of it.,” mentioned Anjum Ara, spokesperson for the JD (U).

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) too slammed BJP for elevating the problem, calling it a political stunt.

“Each time election comes, the BJP begins elevating such points. Border concern comes below the house division of the Centre, so they need to look into it. BJP is making an attempt to seize the political profit from the problem of Bangladeshi infiltration. They did the identical in Jharkhand however bought nothing. Similar outcomes can be seen in Bihar. BJP won’t ever discuss employment and improvement quite they need to divide and rule by elevating Hindu-Muslims concern,” RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav mentioned.