The Jharkhand government has accused Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of spreading hatred across communities with their regular visits to State after Chouhan and Sarma were appointed as State BJP election in-charge and co-in-charge respectively.
The State government in this connection has also written a letter to Election Commission (EC). The Jharkhand government has urged the EC to ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah to issue an advisory to BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma and Shivraj Singh Chouhan to desist from "instigating" communal tension in the state for "narrow political gains" by misusing the official machinery.
In a missive to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, the Jharkhand government has also urged him to advise Shah "not to allow the misuse of the official position of CM, Assam and the state official machinery at the expense of public exchequer for political gains and desist from direct interference in internal affairs of the state in blatant violation of constitutional norms".
Sarma and Chouhan are overseeing Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) election efforts in Jharkhand which will go to polls later this year. The two have made several visits to the state since June even though the election schedule is yet to be announced.
In its letter, dated September 2, the Jharkhand government questioned ‘false statements’ made by these two leaders and asked if they would amount to character assassination of the host state’s government functionaries, including top bureaucrats. The letter, signed by principal secretary Vandana Dadel from the cabinet.
In a communication to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, the Jharkhand government requested it to prevent the misuse of the official positions of Assam's Chief Minister and the state machinery. The letter highlighted allegations of attempts to intimidate administrative and police officers to hinder lawful actions intended to maintain order ahead of the state elections.
These appeals come as the Jharkhand assembly elections approach. Vandana Dadel, Principal Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance Department in Jharkhand, further accused the BJP of attempting to disturb communal harmony by exploiting religious sentiments. She requested an impartial inquiry before any action is taken against government officials.
The Assam Chief Minister has been raising Bangladeshi influx in Jharkhand. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections are crucial for protecting tribals and Hindus, as the "demography of the state is changing due to Bangladeshi infiltration".
Sarma expressed concern that after Assam and West Bengal, Jharkhand might be the next target for Bangladeshi infiltrators.
He claimed that in several districts of Jharkhand, the Muslim population has reached up to 30 per cent, stressing that the elections are crucial for safeguarding the interests of tribals and Hindus.
