Bangladeshi, Rohingya infiltration major threat to Jharkhand: PM Modi
Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the ruling JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand of patronising Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration for vote bank politics.
He said infiltrators from the neighbouring country are a major threat to Jharkhand as they are changing the demography of the Santhal Parganas and Kolhan regions of the state.
"Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators have become a major threat to Santhal Parganas and Kolhan regions. The demography of these regions is changing fast. The tribal population is on the decline. The infiltrators are establishing control of the panchayat system, grabbing land, indulging in atrocities on daughters of the state...Each Jharkhand resident is feeling unsafe," the prime minister said while addressing the 'Parivartan Maharally' of the BJP at Gopal Maidan here.
He also alleged that the JMM was "supporting infiltrators" and the fact was that "illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country managed to establish influence" over the ruling party in the state.
Modi termed the JMM, RJD and the Congress as the "biggest enemies of Jharkhand", asserting that these parties were "power-hungry" and "indulged in vote bank politics".
The PM also alleged, "The JMM-led government has been trained by Congress' school of corruption. It is time to bid farewell to the JMM that looted mines, minerals and Army land."
Modi, who was scheduled to reach Jamshedpur via a chopper, had to travel to the steel city on the road as his helicopter could not take off due to inclement weather conditions.
"No obstacles, including heavy rain, could prevent me from reaching you, I am touched by your affection," he said.
He also asserted that the BJP is set to come to power in the state after the assembly polls due later this year.
"If the BJP comes to power, it will launch a probe into deaths of aspirants during excise constable recruitment drive," he said.
Modi accused the JMM-led coalition of targeting BJP leaders and framing false cases against them.
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Simultaneous polls: Not possible in a democracy like India, says Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Sep 18: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said simultaneous elections are not possible in a democracy like India.
The state Congress President stressed on the need for "bringing in consensus and unanimity in opinion among all parties" in this regard.
Moving ahead with its "one nation, one election" plan, the government on Wednesday accepted a high-level panel's recommendations for holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner after a countrywide consensus-building exercise.
"The 'one nation, one election' that they are planning to do, aimed at saving the government's money, is not possible in a democratic country like ours. Who thought about 'Operational Lotus'? (toppling non-BJP governments by luring opposition MLAs), it is BJP. They are the ones who caused several elections. How can it (multiple elections) be stopped?" Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that the BJP is trying to destabilise several opposition-ruled State governments.
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"As regional parties are growing, they don't want them to grow, so they are making these efforts. All parties should give an equal opportunity in this country," Shivakumar added.
In its report submitted to the government in March, just before the general election was announced, the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind had recommended implementing "one nation, one election" in two phases -- simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in the first phase and elections for local bodies like panchayats and municipal bodies within 100 days of the general election in the second phase.
It also recommended a common electoral roll, which would need coordination between the Election Commission of India and state election commissions.
Noting that 'one nation, one election' was in place earlier, Shivakumar said: "In our state we have held elections (both Lok Sabha and assembly) together in the past, but was it possible later? Cabinets (of state) decided to go for polls either three or six months early sometimes, in some states Assemblies were dissolved, all these things are there. There should be clarity."
Without a two-thirds majority, the central government's decision to go ahead is not right, he said. "There is no such option in democracy....Bring consensus among all parties and let there be a unanimous opinion, without unanimous opinion, such decisions are a waste."
