New Delhi [India], November 5 : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday took a swipe at the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, accusing it of corruption and likening the BJP and its NDA allies to "powerful rockets" poised to propel Jharkhand towards speedy progress.
Singh addressed two public meetings in Ranchi and Lohardaga districts to give a boost to BJP's campaign for the assembly polls.
"Be it JMM, Congress, or RJD, all these political parties are fused firecrackers of Diwali. Whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA allies are such powerful rockets that are ready to take Jharkhand to the skies of progress," he stated.
Singh accused the JMM, Congress, and RJD of betraying the people of Jharkhand, calling them "speedbreakers" in the state's development. He also urged voters to remove these speedbreakers in the upcoming election.
Of the seven Chief Ministers Jharkhand has seen so far, Singh highlighted that three have faced jail, noting that none of them was from the BJP.
"BJP has always run the government spotlessly. Whenever the JMM government came, corruption increased," he said.
"If we form the government in Jharkhand, we will stop illegal Bangladeshi infiltration and protect the rights of tribal communities. We will make laws to return tribal land occupied by infiltrators," he added.
Singh also highlighted the government's initiative for tribal villages across the country.
"Prdhan Mantri Janman Yojana has been launched to improve socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Modiji cares for the welfare of the tribals," Singh said.
The BJP-led government had in November last year approved Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) with total outlay of Rs 24,104 crore to focus on 11 critical interventions through nine line ministries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Abhiyan on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas from Khunti.
India has ST population of 10.45 crore as per 2011 census, out of which 75 communities located in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). These PVTGs continue to face vulnerability in social, economic and educational fields.
PM-JANMAN (comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) focuses on 11 critical interventions through nine ministries including Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
In his speech, Rajnath Singh referred to Mandal Murmu, who had signed nomination papers of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, joining BJP. "Just like people start jumping before the boat sinks, similarly, seeing the sinking boat of JMM, its workers are leaving the party," the union minister said.
Jharkhand will go for assembly polls in two phases on November 13 and 20.