Till now known as a problem in West Bengal and its adjoining areas of Bihar, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are taking advantage of the porous boundary of Sahibganj to make Jharkhand their home as well. The main Opposition party BJP alleged this and stalled the proceeding of the Assembly on the issue.
BJP legislator from Rajmahal Arun Mandal alleged that the infiltration is on the rise in the area and even local Mukhiya of Srihar panchayat of Dhudwa block was directly involved in helping the illegal immigrants.
"Mukhiya Ganesh Kirtania is involved in the act of removing Hindu names of ration card holders and entering false name of Muslims in it. The documents thereafter are being used in making passports of the illegal immigrants coming from across the border," alleged Mandal while demanding a CBI probe into the matter.
He also added that the SDO had even seized 57 such fake ration cards and the police have found many passports issued in names of fictitious persons during the process of verification. The matter brought several BJP members into the well of the House. BJP MlAs, including Umashanker Akela, Saytanand Jha, Menaka Sardar and Raghubar Das sat on dharna inside the House.
The party termed the matter grave for the security of the country as well as the State and demanded a thorough probe and repatriation of illegal immigrants. It also blamed the Congress for playing vote-bank politics. It even alleged that the problem had been in there for long but went unnoticed during the President Rule.
Apart from this, the Government made announcement in the House that MlA area development fund, put on hold during the central rule, would be released. "The fund was stalled during the President Rule but I have issued order to release `3 crore to each member under the scheme," announced Chief Minister Hemant Soren giving his concluding remarks on Saturday.
He also called himself inexperienced as it was his first time as MlA, Deputy Chief Minister and now Chief Minister. "It was my first experience in many terms but I would say that we have wasted 12 years. And now we should understand that we all have to face the people. Give Government sufficient time as we have just started," said Hemant.