The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) strongly criticised the BJP-led central government over Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids that were conducted at multiple locations across Jharkhand on Tuesday. A total of 17 places were raided covered in the two neighbouring states, just one day before the state’s first phase of elections. The JMM accused the central agency of attempting to “distort the narrative” ahead of the polls and claimed that the raids were part of a broader strategy to help the BJP push its “Bangladeshi infiltration” agenda.
The ED carried out the raids as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation tied to the alleged infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into India. The agency’s actions were not limited to Jharkhand. West Bengal also witnessed raids in connection with the same case. However, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey condemned the timing of these operations, arguing that they were politically motivated. According to Pandey, the raids, occurring just before voting in Jharkhand, were designed to mislead voters and support the BJP’s efforts to establish narrative of foreign infiltration in the state.
Pandey said that this move is just to create a false narrative and mislead the people of Jharkhand. He said that the raids are aimed at helping the BJP of pushing its narrative of Bangladeshi infiltration ahead of the polls. He further added that the BJP’s attempts would fail and that the party would receive a strong response from the electorate.
In the first phase of Jharkhand’s elections, which are scheduled for Wednesday, 43 out of the 81 assembly constituencies will go to the polls. The controversy surrounding the ED raids has sparked a strong reaction from the ruling coalition, including its ally, the Jharkhand Congress. Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha also criticized the ED’s actions, labeling them as a “last-ditch effort to salvage the BJP’s dwindling political influence” in the state.
Sinha argued that the focus of the raids was not to tackle alleged infiltrators, but rather an attempt to shift the political dynamics in favor of the BJP. He said the people of Jharkhand are wise to these tactics and will respond accordingly at the polls. He further pointed out that Jharkhand does not share a border with Bangladesh, questioning why the BJP was focusing on the state instead of areas like Assam, which does share such a border. “BJP-ruled Assam shares border with Bangladesh. So I think they should first conduct a raid in Assam instead of Jharkhand,” Sinha remarked.
Additionally, Sinha accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is overseeing the BJP’s campaign for Jharkhand elections, of trying to “polarize votes” in the state. Despite Sarma’s efforts, Sinha asserted that the BJP would not succeed in its tactics, and the people of Jharkhand would not be swayed.