Campaign group counters BJP’s claims on tribal demographics and ‘infiltration’ in Jharkhand

By A Representative
The Democracy Watch Campaign has strongly refuted recent claims by BJP leaders alleging a rise in Bangladeshi infiltration in Jharkhand, decreasing tribal populations, and instances of "love jihad" and "land jihad." BJP leaders have claimed that since the formation of Jharkhand, the tribal population in Santhal Pargana has declined by 16% while the Muslim population has increased by 13%. MP Nishikant Dubey even stated in Parliament that tribals in Santhal Pargana fell from 36% in 2000 to 26% today due to Bangladeshi infiltration.
However, these claims are not supported by official data. As per the Census, the tribal population in the Jharkhand region was 36% in 1951, which declined to 27.67% in 1991 and 26.21% in 2011. The Muslim population grew from 12.18% in 1991 to 14.53% in 2011. In Santhal Pargana, the tribal population fell slightly from 29.91% in 2001 to 28.11% in 2011. The BJP’s claim of a 16% drop is false.
The sharpest decline in tribal population occurred between 1951 and 1991. This was mainly due to large-scale migration of non-tribals from neighboring states, especially in mining and urban areas. Displacement, lack of jobs, and poor health services have also forced tribal migration, impacting population growth. Tribals have a lower annual growth rate and higher mortality due to malnutrition and inadequate healthcare.
On Bangladeshi infiltration, the Modi government has consistently stated in Parliament that it has no data on the number of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Jharkhand. The 2.15% increase in the Muslim population in Santhal Pargana between 2001 and 2011 is minimal and does not support claims of large-scale infiltration.
The BJP’s use of the term "love jihad" has also been challenged. The government has admitted in Parliament that there is no such legal term, and no case has been registered by central agencies. Moreover, a 2013 study found that only 5.7% of marriages in Jharkhand are interfaith, showing the rarity of such cases.
The campaign pointed out that the real issue is the illegal acquisition of tribal land. Violations of CNT and SPT Acts have allowed non-tribals to take over tribal lands, especially in urban areas. The BJP’s use of communal terms like "land jihad" seeks to distract from this reality. Ironically, the same BJP governments forcibly acquired tribal land for projects like the Adani power plant, changed state energy policies to benefit corporates, and supplied electricity to Bangladesh while ignoring Santhal Pargana.
While the BJP claims to be concerned about tribal demography, it has opposed or blocked key tribal demands like the Sarna Code, 27% reservation for OBCs, and a domicile policy based on land records. It has also avoided conducting a caste census, which would reveal the current status of various communities.
The Democracy Watch Campaign demands that the state government take action against those spreading misinformation and communal narratives. It also calls for serious public discussions on the real issues affecting tribals in Jharkhand, as originally raised by the Jharkhand movement.

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