BJP vows UCC in Jharkhand, says will keep tribals out of ambit

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah unveiled Sunday BJP’s manifesto for the Jharkhand assembly elections, promising a uniform civil code (UCC) for the state while exempting tribal communities from its implementation.

He accused illegal Bangladeshi immigrants of grabbing tribal land “by marrying tribal girls through false pretensions”. “The tribal population is dwindling due to infiltration. Soren govt is in denial. We halted this in Assam and will do it here,” he said. “We will identify and deport each and every one of the infiltrators and take back the lands they usurped from the tribal people through gift-deeds.”

Shah said UCC will be implemented in Jharkhand along the lines of Uttarakhand if NDA is elected to office: “UCC is an important step to protect the tribal population.” He outlined a range of pledges aimed at preserving “Jharkhandi Asmita” and countering what he described as the current govt’s “appeasement politics”.

The 25-point manifesto, Sankalp Yatra, includes pledges on tribal land protection, reservation reforms, and support for unemployed youth, women, and farmers.

BJP pledged to raise the reservation for the state’s OBCs from the current 14% to 27% in govt jobs and educational institutions. “This will be done without disturbing the existing reservation for ST and SC communities,” Shah said. The quotas for SCs and STs currently stand at 10% and 26%, respectively.

The party announced that it would address technical and legal challenges associated with this change, as the expanded OBC quota would push the overall reservation beyond the 50% ceiling set by Supreme Court. BJP also pledged to resolve the contentious residents’ policy for people displaced by industries and mines in the state, saying a “displacement commission” would be formed to ensure their rehabilitation.

Shah assured strong measures against recruitment exam leaks, promising CBI investigations and hanging “upside down” those involved in such offences. The manifesto aims to appeal to the tribal community by promising statues of tribal leaders like SidhoKanhu Murmu, Telanga Khariya, and Poto Ho across Jharkhand.

“Narendra Modi was the first PM to pay respects to Birsa Munda at his native village. He also recognised the contribution of Munda by announcing his birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas,” Shah said.

The Union minister criticised the incumbent Sorenled govt for rising crime rates and lax handling of illegal mining. He promised a “zero-tolerance” approach to crime against women and a crackdown on left-wing extremism within two years.

In a bid to improve the welfare of women, youth, and economically marginalised, the manifesto promises LPG at Rs 500 per cylinder, two free cylinders annually during festivals, a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 for unemployed youth, and a 2.8 lakh govt job drive.

Additional measures include a monthly allowance of Rs 2,100 for women under the “Gogo Didi Yojana”, creation of five lakh self-employment opportunities, and reduced property stamp duties for women owners. Women pursuing courses like BEd and nursing will receive financial assistance, with free education offered to girls from kindergarten through post-graduation.

BJP also committed to improving healthcare, pledging 10 new medical colleges and an additional 25,000 beds in healthcare facilities. Senior citizens aged 70 and above would be eligible for free health services up to Rs 10 lakh. In rural governance, the manifesto proposes increasing the monthly honorarium for village heads to Rs 5,000. “We will also hike the monthly stipends being provided to the widows, senior citizens and Divyangs to Rs 2,500 a month,” Shah said. The two-phase Jharkhand assembly elections will be held on Nov 13 and 20.
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