Deoghar (Jharkhand) [India], November 15 : Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anurag Thakur on Friday hit out at the opposition INDIA bloc and said that in order for Jharkhand to progress and become a developed state, it must rid itself of both -- infiltrators and the political influence of the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
The former Union Minister accused them of capturing the state's resources -- including water, land, and jobs -- to the detriment of the local population.
"Infiltrators have captured water, forest and land and have also captured the jobs of the youth. If Jharkhand has to move forward towards development, then it has to be freed from infiltrators and Congress, RJD and JMM," Thakur said.
He further urged voters to continue their support for the BJP in the upcoming second phase of elections, promising that the party would work towards freeing Jharkhand from 'infiltrators' and work towards its betterment.
Thakur said, "I want to say that in the first phase you have voted brilliantly, vote even better in favour of BJP in the second phase. We will free Jharkhand from infiltrators and will also work to make it better."
The BJP leader also extended greetings of Kartik Purnima, Jharkhand Foundation Day, and the 150th birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda and said that the occasion called for a concerted effort to eliminate three major issues he referred to as 'Love Jihad, Land Jihad, and Job Jihad' in the state.
"I congratulate everyone on Kartik Purnima, Jharkhand Foundation Day and the 150th birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda. Another auspicious occasion has come in Jharkhand, that is to get rid of three such diseases - love jihad, land jihad and job jihad," he further added.

The BJP MP also offered prayers at Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deogarh, Jharkhand on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch the national level initiative, Pradhan Mantri Dharati Abha Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan Yojana from Bihar's Jamui district today to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
According to an official release, the scheme is aimed at the upliftment of tribal communities across the country, ensuring that they receive the benefits of various government programs and initiatives.
The inaugural event will also on highlighting and consolidating all existing schemes aimed at supporting the development of tribal populations.
The first phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections on Wednesday, recorded 64.86 per cent voter turnout at 5 pm across the 43 assembly constituencies, surpassing 63.9 per cent voting in the 2019 assembly elections, said the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Voting for the first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections concluded, with voting taking place in 43 out of the state's 81 seats.
Elections on the remaining 38 seats will be conducted on November 20. The counting of the votes will take place on November 23.