BJP leaders’ baseless claims against Muslims stir distrust, undermine social unity in Jharkhand
Team Clarion
RANCHI -– In a series of controversial statements recently, BJP leaders have intensified their rhetoric against Muslims, casting a cloud over the country’s communal harmony. This time, the divisive statements emerged from Jharkhand, where BJP leaders, including MP Nishikant Dubey and BJP official JP Neeta, have issued inflammatory statements against Muslims, accusing them of infiltrating Santhal Pargana and intending to alter the region’s demographics. Critics argue that these claims not only lack evidence but also serve as a political ploy to fracture society for electoral gain.
“BJP is not desisting from its dirty and cheap activities against Muslims,” said a Jharkhand-based community leader, pointing to the BJP’s persistent attacks on the minority community. “By painting Muslims as outsiders, they seek to turn citizens against each other, which is both untrue and damaging to our social fabric.”
Dubey has claimed that Bangladeshi infiltrators are increasing in the Santhal Pargana region, even accusing political opponents, including Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, of conspiring to “merge Santhal Pargana with Bangladesh for vote bank politics.” Sharing a government letter on social media, he alleged that Muslims have been obtaining citizenship documents illegally to “loot the honour and land of our sisters and daughters.” However, neither concrete evidence nor statistical analysis has been provided to support these sweeping allegations.
Analysts point out that this rhetoric follows a pattern seen in BJP’s recent political strategies, which aim to deepen communal divides. The BJP has often evoked the threat of an external “enemy” to draw support from its base, an approach that many believe threatens the delicate communal balance that India’s democracy relies upon. As one political observer noted, “By making Muslims the ‘other,’ BJP aims to foster a sense of fear and mistrust, which, while effective in garnering votes, endangers the principles of equality and harmony that the nation stands for.”
Local reports from Jharkhand indicate that there is no factual basis to support claims of large-scale infiltration or the “Bangladeshisation” of Santhal Pargana. According to census data, the demographic changes in the area are in line with normal patterns observed across other regions, with no unusual spikes in migration or population shifts. The accusations appear to be a tactic to justify policies like the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which the BJP has been advocating as a tool to identify “illegal” immigrants. However, critics argue that such policies disproportionately target Muslims and tribal communities, sowing fear rather than securing real solutions.
“Claims like these are just an attempt to distract the public from real issues facing the region,” said a local social activist. “People in Jharkhand are dealing with poverty, unemployment, and lack of education. Instead of addressing these pressing needs, the BJP is making Muslims a scapegoat to shift focus.”
