SUBHASH MISHRA
Jharia/Baghmara, Nov 12: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing rallies in Jharia’s Jealgora Stadium and Baghmara’s school ground, vowed that a BJP-led government would stop coal smuggling, which, he labelled, is a significant barrier to Jharkhand’s development.
Shah stated that the BJP’s victory would ensure strict measures against coal theft in regions like Jharia, emphasising, “It is my promise that coal smuggling would be completely checked in Jharia after BJP comes to power.”
Promise of prosperity and industrial development
Amit Shah, addressing two campaign rallies at Jealgora Stadium in Jharia and at a school ground in Baghmara in support of BJP candidates Ragni Singh and Shatrughan Mahto, highlighted Jharkhand’s rich mineral resources. He noted that while the state holds vast potential for prosperity, its people have not benefited due to a lack of development efforts.
Amit Shah highlighted Jharkhand’s mineral wealth and its potential for prosperity, which, he claimed, has been stunted by a lack of development under previous governments. Shah pledged that if BJP wins, they would make Jharkhand “the most prosperous state in the country” within five years.
Outlining the party’s vision, he said, “Factories will be set up for mineral processing, and power plants for coal production, so that the youth in coal regions won’t need to leave the state for jobs.”
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Shah blames Congress, JMM for Jharkhand’s problems
Shah criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Hemant Soren, and Lalu Prasad, holding them responsible for Jharkhand’s underdevelopment, alleging insufficient funding allocations to the state.
He said, “During the 10 years from 2004 to 2014 under Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the central government gave Jharkhand only Rs 84,000 crores, whereas from 2014 to 2024 under Narendra Modi, Jharkhand received Rs 3.9 lakh crores.”
Corruption and misuse of funds
Highlighting alleged corruption by Congress and JMM leaders, Shah questioned the use of central funds, stating, “Besides the Rs 3.9 lakh crore, an additional Rs 81,000 crore was allocated for infrastructure development. But this money is traceless—where did it go?”
He accused the opposition parties of prioritising personal gain over development, referencing recent cash recoveries, including Rs 350 crore found in a Congress MP’s residence and Rs 35 crore in the home of a minister in Hemant Soren’s government Alamgir Alam.
Shah affirmed that the BJP would recover these funds, declaring, “All recovered cash belongs to the people of the state, and the BJP will reclaim it once we form the government.”
