A closer look at issues PM Modi flagged in Jharkhand: ‘infiltrators’ threat to tribals, love jihad, Friday off’

Addressing a poll rally in Dumka last Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government in Jharkhand of “patronising infiltrators” who, he alleged, were grabbing land and putting women at risk.

PM Modi also accused the JMM alliance of indulging in “communal and appeasement politics”, claiming that the term “love jihad” originated from Jharkhand.

Going after the JMM, which is part of the Opposition INDIA alliance, PM Modi told the Dumka rally that the population of tribals was declining in the state, especially in the Santhal Pargana, while that of the “ghuspetiyon” (infiltrators) was on the rise and posed a threat to “the lives and security of our daughters”.

Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000.

Prof Jyoti Prakash, Assistant Professor of Economics in Ranchi University, who has published a research paper, “A post independence demographic study of tribal population of Jharkhand” told The Indian Express: “In absolute numbers, the tribal population is increasing in Jharkhand. However, when seen in context of non-tribal population, their share in population is decreasing. It means that the tribal population share vis-a-vis non-tribals has decreased from 37% in 1951 to 26% in 2011 due to their migration in search of jobs and displacement among other factors.”

As regards the claim that infiltrators have been allowed to settle in Jharkhand, a state government source said: “The police special branch had conducted a survey some years ago, which said there were indeed infiltrators. It has not been made public. However, if people have come and settled in Jharkhand, they are from West Bengal rather than Bangladesh. Also, whose job is it to protect the borders? Isn’t it under the purview of