Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Waqf Board of engaging in land-grabbing activities and called for reforms to both the Board and its governing Act. Speaking at a rally in Baghmara, Jharkhand, Shah alleged that the Waqf Board had illegally seized land from farmers, villagers, and temples, particularly in Karnataka. He questioned the necessity of reforms for the Board, emphasizing that the BJP would proceed with amendments to the Waqf Act despite opposition from leaders like Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Shah also reiterated the BJP’s commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which he described as crucial for addressing illegal infiltration, while assuring that tribals would be excluded from its provisions. He further stated that, should the BJP come to power, the party would send “trainloads of illegal immigrants to Bangladesh,” accusing the current government of using infiltrators as a political vote bank.

Turning to Jharkhand’s future, Shah pledged that the BJP would work to make the state the most prosperous in India by promoting mineral-based industries and reversing what he described as the exploitation by local leaders. He assured voters that the BJP’s initiatives would curb out-migration to other states.

The elections for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly are scheduled for November 13 and 20, with results set to be declared on November 23.