As campaign for the assembly elections gathered steam in Jharkhand, BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday warned that the state’s Hindu population will come down to 50 per cent in the next 20 years if infiltration is not stopped.
Accusing the JMM-led government of “patronising infiltrators”, the Assam chief minister, who is also BJP’s Jharkhand election in-charge, urged Hindus to remain united to save the 'Santan Dharma'.
"This election is for driving out infiltrators from Jharkhand and saving Hindus. It is time to remain united to save Sanatan. If infiltration is not checked, the Hindu population in Jharkhand will decline to 50 per cent in the next 20 years," he was quoted as saying by PTI.
Sarma was addressing a party’s election rally at Panki in Palamu.
While claiming that the Hindu population was declining in several areas of the state, Sarma urged people to oust the JMM-led coalition from power. “Infiltrators and a particular community are their vote bank," he added.
Sarma cited the demography of Santhal Pargana region to drive home his arguments. The region which comprises six districts—Sahibganj, Godda, Pakur, Dumka, Deoghar and Jamtara—had a total population of 23.22 lakh in 1951, he said.
"Of the 23.22 lakh population of Santhal Paragana in 1951, 21 lakh were Hindus and Adivasis and 9 per cent were Muslim. Now the Hindu and Adivasi population has declined to 63 per cent and the Muslim population has increased to 37 per cent," he argued.
Jharkhand goes to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20. The votes will be counted on November 23.