The Jharkhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday attacked the state government on the issue of employing migrant workers and distributed offer letters from private company contractors among more than 70 of the workers in the district.

The event was organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Thursday at the newly constructed party office on Baliapur road. Former chief minister Babulal Marandi was among those present. The event was part of the “seva saptah (service week)”, which also saw blood donation camps and food distribution for migrant workers being held, and organised a day after Marandi took on the state government over deteriorating law and order.

A cake was cut at the event to celebrate the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP leader Babulal Marandi (centre) cuts a cake to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 70th birthday in Dhanbad on Thursday. Gautam Dey

While speaking at the event, Marandi praised the Centre led by Modi for the effective handling of the Covid-19 situation. He claimed that though initially PPE kits and ventilators were not manufactured in India and masks were made in small numbers, the country is now in a position to supply PPE kits to other parts of the world.

“Although due to the large population of country, the number of infections is high, the death rate due to Covid-19 is marginal,” Marandi said and added that the food distribution for the poor and money transfers into the Jan Dhan accounts were unique initiatives by the Centre to mitigate the economic impact of Covid 19.

“Despite the efforts of the Centre, the Jharkhand government is protesting,” he said. Earlier, only a portion of the money allocated would reach the common people, whereas Modi has ensured that the entire amount reaches the bank account of the beneficiaries and there are no middlemen involved, Marandi said.

Exhorting the activists of the youth wing of the party to work to make the country self-sufficient, he said that production in India of various items will make the nation self-dependent and create employment for people.

BJP leader Babulal Marandi handing over appointment letters and certificates in Dhanbad on Thursday. Gautam Dey

“Modi took the initiative in this regard by banning several foreign articles, including Chinese products and services. We also need to promote the interests of our farmers because when the industrial activity dipped, farmers ensured the wheels of economic progress kept rolling,” said Marandi in presence of former Dhanbad mayor Chandrashekhar Agawal, Nirsa MLA Aparna Sengupta and Sindri MLA Indrajit Mahto, besides the state unit president of BJYM, Kislay Tiwari, and others.

Sudarshan Lal, a resident of Hirapur in Dhanbad, who has been provided an appointment letter from drug-supply company Shiv Shakti, said: “I was working as an accountant at a private company in Asansol and lost my job during the lockdown and remained idle for several months. BJYM activists liaised with the company and gave me a job.”