NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday labeled Congress an “anti-reservation” party.
Addressing a poll rally in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, the Union home minister vowed to block any efforts to extend reservations to Muslims in a rally in poll-bound Jharkhand.
“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’s even one BJP MLA, we won’t allow reservations for Muslims,” Shah said in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad.
Taking aim at alleged corruption in the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress coalition, Shah cited recent seizures, hinting at financial crimes within the local government. He pointed to Rs 35 crore seized from JMM minister Alamgir Alam’s residence and Rs 350 crore from a Congress MP’s house.
Highlighting BJP’s commitment to root out corruption, Shah said, “Just form a BJP government, and we will set these looters straight.” He also accused the ruling coalition of widespread corruption in land deals, mining, and MGNREGA schemes, labeling the administration a “scam-ridden government.”
Shah assured voters that BJP’s guarantees would be met. “When our government comes, we will fulfill our ‘Sankalp Patra’ pledges. Rs 2,100 will be deposited into women’s bank accounts, and no matter the gas prices across the nation, it will not exceed Rs 500 here. For Diwali and Raksha Bandhan, two gas cylinders will be provided free of charge under BJP’s government,” Shah said.
Further, he promised Rs 2,000 for youth and Rs 3,100 per quintal for farmers’ paddy, with an increase in pensions for disabled and widowed citizens by Rs 2,500.
Shah also raised concerns over illegal immigration, claiming that infiltrators are taking jobs and land, targeting tribal women, and draining local resources. “They marry tribal women multiple times to take over their land. When BJP comes to power, we will find and deport every infiltrator from here,” he said.
At a separate rally in Baghmara, Shah accused Karnataka’s Waqf Board of encroaching on land belonging to temples, villagers, and farmers. He called for amendments to the Waqf Act, claiming, “The Waqf Board is in the habit of grabbing land. In Karnataka, it has devoured the assets of villagers. Let them oppose it; the BJP will pass the Bill to amend the Waqf Act. No one can stop us.”
He also highlighted BJP’s intent to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), vowing it would exclude tribals and serve as a measure against infiltration. “No one can stop implementation of the UCC in Jharkhand,” he added.
Jharkhand’s assembly elections are set to take place in two phases, with the first on Wednesday and the second on November 20. Results will be announced on November 23. In the last elections, JMM secured 30 seats, BJP won 25, and Congress claimed 16.