BJP will stop 'Love Jihad', if voted to power in Bengal: State chief Samik

Kolkata: As the West Bengal Assembly polls are nearing, the state is turning into a battle ground on various aspects. And now shedding light on the same BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya stated that if the party comes to power here it will bring various positive changes. Samik Bhattacharya told PTI that if the party comes to power in the state, it will act against what he called 'Love Jihad' and 'Land Jihad', even if it is branded communal for doing so. 

Bhattacharya cast this month's election not merely as a contest between the BJP and the ruling TMC, but as a decisive civilisation battle for the "existence of Bengali Hindus" and also of what he called "nationalist, rational Muslims", talking to PTI.

The BJP leader linked his party's political pitch to the fallout of the recent developments in Bangladesh, the "changing demography" of West Bengal's border districts, the SIR exercise, and the TMC's policy of "minority appeasement", reported PTI.

“I have also said that this is the last election not only for Bengali Hindus but also for nationalist, rational Muslims (if the TMC returns to power in the state),” Bhattacharya said. “Because of the fanaticism we have seen in Bangladesh — Hindus were killed, Hindu women were abducted and converted, but Sunni Muslims were also killed,” he added. 

Shedding light on the question whether the BJP, if voted to power in West Bengal, would stop what he described as ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’, he said, “Yes. That is our duty and responsibility. We will end ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’ in the state.” He added, “Let them call us communal, we are not bothered. Who is carrying out ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’ in West Bengal?”

Further speaking on the same, Bhattacharya told PTI, “Love Jihad means that someone introduces himself as a Hindu, pretending to be, say ‘Jhontu’, enters into a relationship with a girl, and only then reveals his religion when she gets involved.” 

He alleged, “It is alarming and dangerous. The demography of all our border districts has changed. Using West Bengal as a base, its land has been used to change the demography of the forest belt areas of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.” 

“Along with ‘Love Jihad’, ‘Land Jihad’ has also begun. Bangladeshis are marrying tribal girls and taking control of their land. Using Murshidabad in West Bengal as a base, Bangladeshi infiltrators have spread to different places,” he added. 

Seeking to place the BJP’s politics within a longer ideological trajectory, Bhattacharya told PTI, “We have been indulging in politics on this issue since the 1950s. Every political party has opposed us.” 

It is worthy to be mentioned here that Assembly polls is scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Meanwhile, vote counting will be done on May 4.