Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing a public rally in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, on Tuesday, launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of being “anti-reservation” and vowing to block any moves to extend reservations to Muslims.
Shah said, “Congress is an anti-reservation party. They want to end reservations for backward classes and Dalits to provide it to Muslims. As long as there is even one BJP MLA, we won’t allow reservations for Muslims.”
The Home Minister also seized the opportunity to target the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government, accusing them of corruption and mismanagement. Shah referred to the seizure of large sums of money from JMM Minister Alamgir Alam’s residence and a Congress MP’s house, asking, “If 35 crore rupees are seized from Alam’s house and 350 crore rupees from a Congress MP’s house, whose money is this?” He claimed it was money looted from the people of Dhanbad, particularly the youth and mothers.
Shah further lambasted the state government, claiming that Jharkhand was plagued by a series of scams, including a 1,000 crore MGNREGA scam, land scams, and mining scandals. He described the state government as “scam-ridden” and vowed that a BJP government would take decisive action against the corruption.
Turning to promises for the upcoming elections, Shah emphasized the BJP’s commitment to its “Sankalp Patra” (election manifesto). He outlined a series of welfare promises, including direct financial assistance to women, capped gas prices, and free gas cylinders during Diwali and Raksha Bandhan.
“When the BJP comes to power, women will receive Rs 2,100 in their bank accounts, and gas prices won’t exceed Rs 500,” he stated. Additionally, he promised Rs 2,000 for youth, Rs 3,100 per quintal for farmers’ paddy, and an increase in pensions for the disabled and widows by Rs 2,500.
Shah reiterated the BJP’s stance on “illegal immigration”, accusing infiltrators of exploiting Jharkhand’s resources. “They marry tribal women 2-3 times and take over their land. When BJP comes to power, we will find and deport every infiltrator,” he said.
