Ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly elections in 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a bitter attack on the Congress party, particularly against a recent controversial statement by Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir.
One statement that almost instantaneously went viral had Mir promising subsidized LPG cylinders to “all poor people, including infiltrators,” once the INDIA alliance came into power. Modi condemned this as Congress’s dangerous play with national security, suggesting that such moves were part of a vote bank strategy that targeted the weaker sections of the state.
“We have promised to provide gas cylinders at ₹450 from December 1 if our government is formed. This will be for the common masses… whether they are Hindus, Muslims, infiltrators – it will be given to all Jharkhand citizens, no other factor will be considered,” Mir, who is the AICC general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge, told a poll rally at Chandrapura.
A Scathing Response
Modi’s response during rallies in Jharkhand accused of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of facilitating the illegal settlement of immigrants in the state, promoting “vote bank politics.” He also accused of them of destabilizing the region, especially by welcoming what he called a “Bangladeshi infiltrator.” The Prime Minister remarked that such promises would undermine Jharkhand’s security and cultural fabric.
The BJP Campaigns on it
The BJP has seized on the issue, with Modi emphasizing strict measures to deport infiltrators and serve the interests of residents. The party will likely capitalize on this controversy as a rallying point in its election campaign, highlighting the Congress-led government’s alleged complicity in the infiltration issue. Promising LPG cylinders to infiltrators has sparked a fierce debate, with BJP leaders decrying it as “national security trade-offs in exchange for votes.”
The Counter-Argument from Congress
In contrast, Congress leaders have sought to defend Mir’s utterances by asserting that they were laid down in context to benefit all citizens in the state. However, the BJP is unmoved and continues accusing Congress of endorsing illegal migration to induce electoral harvest.
The election approaching day by day intensifies the clash between the Congress-led alliance and the BJP, as both parties increasingly emphasize their positions on security, governance, and welfare schemes.
The ongoing controversy surrounding subsidized LPG promises further heats up what is already a political battleground in Jharkhand as the elections approach.
As the date of the elections draws near, it looks like Modi’s remarks will strengthen not only the ideological chorus about national security but also the local welfare issues important to the voters. Lines have been drawn for one of those battles that promises to be a high-stakes electoral battle.
