Tue Oct 15 14:42:24 UTC 2024: ## Political War Erupts in Jharkhand over India’s Ranking in Global Hunger Index
**Ranchi, October 13, 2024:** The political landscape in Jharkhand has witnessed a fresh wave of attacks and counter-attacks following the release of the Global Hunger Index 2024, where India ranked 105th out of 127 countries. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has used the report to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the latter has dismissed it as an agenda driven by foreign agencies.
JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey criticized the BJP government for India’s deteriorating performance in the index, highlighting that 80 crore people in the country rely on government-provided ration for survival. He accused the BJP of prioritizing the interests of industrialists over the welfare of the common people, leading to the present situation.
Pandey further asserted that the Global Hunger Index is compiled by reputed international organizations and cannot be dismissed as false. He challenged the BJP to explain the rising debt burden and the issue of black money, which he claims are undeniable realities.
The BJP, in its defense, accused foreign agencies of deliberately spreading misinformation about India. They pointed to the decline of Sri Lanka, which was once touted as a better nation than India by similar agencies, as an example of such misinformation. They also countered the JMM’s claims by stating that the BJP government has launched schemes to ensure food security for 80 crore people in the country.
The Global Hunger Index, a tool used to assess hunger and malnutrition levels, has sparked a heated debate in the run-up to the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections. The JMM seeks to capitalize on public concerns highlighted by the report, while the BJP is keen to downplay its implications.
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