'Those who worship infiltrators': PM Modi hits out at Congress' LPG cylinder vow in Jharkhand

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday latched on to Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir's controversial pre-poll promise of providing subsidised LPG to "Hindus, Muslims, and infiltrators", accusing the Congress of "worshipping infiltrators" for the sake of votes.

While addressing a public gathering in Maharashtra's Panvel, PM Modi said: "While we are being questioned for providing free ration to the poor, a Congress leader in Jharkhand has promised to provide cheap cylinders to Hindus, Muslims, and even to the infiltrators. Should we give a chance to those who worship the infiltrators?"

"It's an example of how they are playing with the future of your children for the sake of votes," he added.

Read also: Congress' 'cylinders for infiltrators' promise in Jharkhand gives fresh ammo to BJP

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath also attacked Congress over Mir's remarks and said the BJP will never allow the handing over of tribal rights to infiltrators.

"The Congress in-charge has promised to give cylinders to Hindus, Muslims, and infiltrators. BJP will not allow the handing over of tribal rights to infiltrators," Adityanath said.

Addressing an election rally in Bokaro, he reiterated the slogan of 'batenge toh katenge' (if divided we will be wiped out), asking people to take lessons from the creation of Pakistan, the developments in Bangladesh, and the "insults in Ayodhya".

What Ghulam Mir said

Ghulam Mir had earlier stirred controversy after he said the INDIA bloc-led government would provide LPG cylinders at Rs 450 to everyone, including "infiltrators", if it comes to power.

"We have promised that we will provide gas cylinders at Rs 450 from December 1 if our government is formed. This will be for the common masses ... whether they are Hindus, Muslims, infiltrators — it will be given to all Jharkhand citizens, no other factor will be considered," he said.

Read also: ED searches 17 Jharkhand, Bengal sites in Bangladeshi infiltration case

Mir also questioned BJP's stance on "infiltrators", asking who did the party mean by the term.

"BJP, despite being in power at the Centre for 10 years, has not been able to identify infiltrators. BJP has to explain who infiltrators are," Mir said.

The BJP is riding on its anti-infiltration campaign in Jharkhand, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised new legislation to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators who marry tribal women.

The BJP has also accused the Hemant Soren government of turning the state into a 'dharmashala' for Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators.

The JMM and Congress have countered the BJP's "Bangladeshi infiltration" narrative with a strong offensive. JMM Chief and Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the BJP of spreading communal poison in the state.

He alleged that the BJP-led NDA looted the state for 20 years and claimed it was his government that had extended rights and benefits to the people in the past five years.
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