The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to launch an extensive padyatra across Jharkhand, a movement that seeks to address some of the state’s most pressing demographic and cultural challenges. Central to this campaign are concerns about the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals, rampant religious conversions, and the alarming decline in the tribal population. According to party strategists, this padyatra is not just a political move but a social awareness initiative designed to awaken public consciousness and protect the identity of Jharkhand’s indigenous communities.
A Three-Year Campaign for Cultural Preservation
The padyatra is slated to span three years, unfolding in multiple phases. It will be led by senior BJP leaders including Nishikant Dubey, Babulal Marandi, and Champai Soren. Significantly, Mandal Murmu, a direct descendant of Santhal rebellion leader Sido Kanho and a recent BJP entrant, will also be a prominent face of the campaign. Each week, the padyatra will be conducted over three to four days, covering every tehsil and rural stretch in the state. The aim is to reach the grassroots, fostering engagement on issues that BJP believes were overlooked during the last assembly election campaign.
Demographic Shifts in Santhal Pargana Raise Alarms
A focal point of this padyatra is the Santhal Pargana region, which includes districts such as Pakur, Sahibganj, Godda, Jamtara, Dumka, and Deoghar. Historically home to the Santhal tribe, this area is witnessing a significant demographic transformation. According to BJP leaders, this change is primarily driven by illegal immigration from Bangladesh, which they argue is being facilitated by lax governance and vote-bank politics.
The Santhals, known for their fierce resistance during the 1855 Santhal Rebellion against British rule, have long maintained a principle of not transferring tribal land to outsiders. However, the continuous influx of Bangladeshi settlers threatens this social fabric. The BJP has called for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jharkhand to identify and deport these illegal immigrants. They claim that the state government, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), has deliberately ignored this problem to retain its minority vote base.
Special Branch Report Confirms Infiltration Patterns
Further fuelling BJP’s campaign is a classified letter from the Special Branch of the Jharkhand government, recently accessed by media houses. The report details the systematic infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Santhal Pargana and beyond. The process, as per the report, involves initial sheltering of migrants in local madrasas, their enrollment in voter lists, and eventual assimilation through social mechanisms such as marriage to tribal women. This integration grants them indirect rights over tribal land, compromising the land ownership rights of the Santhals.
Census statistics reinforce BJP’s apprehensions. Between 2001 and 2011:
- Jharkhand’s Muslim population grew by 14%, nearly mirroring the 14.2% increase in the Santhal community.
- In Pakur, the Muslim population surged by 42%, while the Santhal growth rate was just 19.51%.
- In Sahibganj, the Muslim population rose by 37%, whereas Santhals grew by only 10.8%.
These numbers, BJP asserts, indicate not just natural growth but a targeted demographic shift meant to alter the cultural and political balance of the state.
Infiltration Routes and Political Fallout
The geography of Jharkhand and its porous borders with West Bengal and Bihar make it particularly vulnerable to cross-border movement. The main infiltration routes include:
- By Road: Many immigrants cross into Pakur via Murshidabad in West Bengal.
- By Rail: From Pakur or Sahibganj, they board trains to reach interior districts.
- By River: Infiltrators also navigate the Ganga from Sahibganj into Bihar’s Katihar district.
This issue has ignited a heated political exchange. BJP leaders have openly accused the JMM-Congress alliance of facilitating these infiltrations for political gain. They argue that unchecked migration, conversions, and demographic shifts are undermining Jharkhand’s tribal heritage and must be countered with decisive action.
BJP’s Long Game to Reclaim Tribal Identity
The BJP’s padyatra is not just a political rally; it is seen as a cultural movement to reclaim Jharkhand’s tribal identity from what the party views as systematic erosion through infiltration and religious conversion. By undertaking a three-year-long statewide campaign, the BJP is seeking to create sustained public awareness and establish moral and political urgency around these issues. With a strong grassroots focus and symbolic leadership from figures like Mandal Murmu, the party hopes to reassert its relevance in tribal heartlands and build momentum ahead of the next elections. Whether this padyatra will successfully shift the political narrative or face resistance from ruling parties remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly reignited the debate on identity, demography, and security in Jharkhand.