Congress Promises LPG Dole To 'Infiltrators' In Jharkhand, JMM Clarifies After BJP Lashes Out

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir stirred a row after he allegedly promised LPG cylinders to "infiltrators" prompting a clarification from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. 

A video circulated on social media where Mir was heard saying the Congress will provide LPG cylinders to everyone including "infiltrators." 

"We have promised that we will provide gas cylinders at Rs 450 from December 1 if our government is formed. This will be for the common masses… whether they are Hindus, Muslims, infiltrators – it will be given to all Jharkhand citizens, no other factor will be considered," Mir said in the video. 

Later, Mir gave a clarification saying half portion of the clip is being circulating on social media. "In the first half of the clip we asked the BJP government at the Centre to identify who these infiltrators are otherwise they are calling people of Jharkhand as infiltrators," Mir said.  

"In that context we said that the LPG cylinders will be given to the residents of the state. If they are infiltrators in BJP's view then its their problem, for us they are residents," he added. 

The purported statement drew ire from the Bharatiya Janata Party as Prime Minister Narendra Modi latched to the poll promise saying this is an example of the game Congress is playing with the country and the bright future of children to get votes. 

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Congress–JMM-RJD government "is patronising infiltration in Jharkhand." 

In another rally in Bokaro, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "The Congress in charge has promised to give cylinders to Hindus, Muslims and infiltrators. BJP will not allow handing over of tribals rights to infiltrators."

In a bid to suppress the mounted attacks by the BJP, JMM issued a clarification saying that by infiltrators, Mir meant Muslims as "in the eyes of BJP, infiltrators are Muslims..." 

"Mir sahab has clearly said that we will give it to everyone (LPG cylinder for Rs 450), we do not do 'jumlabaazi', we will give it to everyone - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, tribals, non-tribals, Dalits. In the eyes of BJP, infiltrators are Muslims," said JMM leader Manoj Pandey. 

"Mir Sahab said that we will give it to infiltrators as well, meaning we will give it to all those Muslims who are our citizens, original residents of this place. We are committed, we will give cylinder for Rs 450 and people also believe in our words," he added.