Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim of the Centre’s concern at the mica mining workers while addressing a rally at Birni in Giridih under the Koderma parliamentary constituency of Jharkhand on Tuesday afternoon drew flak from the workers union of the mica scrap workers.

Addressing an election rally at the Koderma parliamentary seat, the Prime Minister claimed that he had arrived straight after filing his nomination at Varanasi and said that earlier central governments were not concerned for the welfare of the mica workers. But under his regime, ₹60 crore has been given under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) to the Koderma district.

“The Koderma area is known for mica mining. Earlier governments were not bothered about the welfare of the workers engaged in mica mining. However, my government decided that a certain portion of DMFT would be used for the welfare of the people residing in the mining area.

“Jharkhand has received nearly ₹12,000 crore under DMFT and Koderma district alone has received ₹60 crore,” said Modi while urging masses to vote for the BJP Koderma candidate and incumbent MP, Annapurna Devi and Giridih NDA (AJSU) candidate Chandra Prakash Chaudhary.

However, the Prime Minister’s claims drew sharp criticism from those engaged in the mica scrap (known as dhibra in local parlance).

“Hundreds of mica mines under the Koderma forest divisions were closed decades ago due to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. However, due to exemption through the Bihar Mica Act workers used to eke out a living by picking mica scraps. However, during the Raghubar Das (former chief minister between 2014 and 2019) regime administration clamped down on mica scrap lifting with announcements that patches would be auctioned. No auction has taken place so far,” said Ashok Verma, chairperson Audyogik Swavlambhi Cooperative Society, Koderma (society of the dhibra labour’s).

He further claimed that in 2023 the former chief minister Hemant Soren tried to revive the mica scrap by allowing trade through cooperative society.

“But the central government through the atomic energy department said lithium contents were found near mica deposits and the samples were sent for testing. Since then mica scrap trade has been closed and workers are on the brink of starvation,” added Verma.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister credited his government for minimising terrorism and Naxalism in Jharkhand and the rest of the country through a “strong government”.

“We will launch a full attack against Naxalism and terrorism in my third term,” said Modi.

He also took credit for the voting in Srinagar on Monday.

“After decades an election festival took place in Srinagar and this was made possible through abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir under Modi,” he said.

Playing a sympathy card, Modi said: “JMM-Congress leaders are openly threatening to shoot and bury me. But I have the safety shield of the masses.”

Incidentally, JMM leader from Giridih Nazrul Islam had been accused by the BJP of threatening the assassination of the Prime Minister by calling for burying him.

However, the JMM leader had later apologised and stated that his remarks were taken out of context and he had meant that the Prime Minister’s claim of “abki baar 400 par” would be buried after the announcement of results.

Taking a dig at the Congress rural development
minister of Jharkhand Alamgir Alam’s personal secretary (Sanjiv Lal) and domestic
help (Jahangir Alam) who have been arrested by the
Enforcement Directorate
(ED) after recovery of cash worth over ₹35 crore from their houses and office, Modi said: “If mountains of cash are recovered from staff of the minister just imagine what would be found at the minister’s house.”

He reiterated that his government would continue the crusade against corruption and nepotism in his third term as Prime Minister and not let corrupt leaders of the Congress steal people’s money.

Incidentally, Alam deposed before the ED office in Ranchi on Tuesday for questioning over the cash haul at his personal secretary and his domestic help house.

Modi also blamed the “appeasement policies” of the JMM-Congress-RJD government in Jharkhand for “jihadis” and “ghuspetiyes” (infiltrators) — a term used for Muslims by BJP leader — damaging idols of deities.

He also accused Congress leaders of suggesting to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision on the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and INDIA bloc leaders of planning to give reservation to Muslims under the OBC category.

Koderma will vote on
May 20.