Thu Nov 07 08:41:26 UTC 2024: ## BJP Promises UCC, Excludes Tribals, in Jharkhand Election Bid

**Ranchi:** The BJP has pledged to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Jharkhand if voted to power, but with a significant caveat – it will exclude tribal communities from its purview. This announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Ranchi while releasing the party’s manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections.

Shah also promised to remove Bangladeshi infiltrators from the state and return occupied land to tribal communities. The BJP’s campaign has centered on the UCC and the issue of illegal immigration, which has sparked considerable concern in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, however, has rejected Shah’s statements, asserting that neither the UCC nor the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be allowed in the state. His party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is advocating for a separate Sarna Code for tribal communities, challenging the BJP’s strategy of integrating them into the Hindu fold.

The BJP’s decision to exclude tribals from the UCC is seen as a strategic move to secure tribal votes. This selective approach has, however, attracted criticism from the opposition who argue that the UCC is a veiled attempt to abolish Muslim personal laws.

The issue of illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh, has become a focal point of the election campaign. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Jharkhand High Court claims that Bangladeshi infiltration is altering the state’s demographics.

While the BJP promises to protect tribals from illegal immigration, Soren has dismissed their claims, asserting that the state will adhere to the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts to safeguard tribal culture and land rights.

The BJP, acknowledging the popularity of the Sarna Code, has suggested that it would consider the demand for a separate code during the upcoming decennial census.

With election day approaching, both the BJP and JMM are likely to intensify their rhetoric on the UCC, Bangladeshi infiltration, and the Sarna Code. The outcome of the election will reveal whether these issues resonate with voters in Jharkhand.

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