Congress, JMM want to divide backward classes: Modi in Jharkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the backward castes in Jharkhand to stay united if they wanted to stay "safe" with regard to their rights to reservation and other benefits, alleging that Congress and JMM want to pit one OBC group with another for their political gains.

Addressing a BJP Assembly election rally in Bokaro on Sunday, he said the OBCs, Dalits and tribals should be wary of the "evil designs" of the two parties. The PM said till there were fissures between the backwards castes, tribals and Dalits, Congress continued to rule at the Centre.

"Beware of Congress-JMM's evil designs and conspiracies. They can go to any extent to snatch power. Congress has been an opponent of SC, ST, and OBC unity since Independence. Till there was no unity, Congress kept forming governments at the Centre and looted the nation... More than 125 sub-castes are considered OBCs in the Chota Nagpur region. Congress-JMM wants to break the OBC unity by pitting sub-castes against each other. I warn you 'ek rahoge toh safe rahoge'," Modi said.


He also alleged that the JMM-Congress government has been soft on infiltrators from Bangladesh settling in increasing numbers in the state. If voted to power, BJP will drive out these infiltrators and remove corruption, he promised.

"You are hankering for a handful of sand, they are smuggling it," the PM said, attacking the coalition government. "Recruitment mafia and paper leak mafia created by the JMM-led coalition will be sent to jail and those who played with the future of the youth would not be spared," Modi said.

The PM maintained that Congress and RJD had opposed the creation of Jharkhand and hence do not want the state to develop. "We have created Jharkhand, we will develop Jharkhand," Modi said.