Ranchi: BJP’s newly appointed Jharkhand in-charge and national general secretary Gajendra Singh Patel on Tuesday attacked the state govt, accusing it of corruption, worsening law and order, failure to provide jobs and attempts to mislead tribal communities.Addressing his first media conference after taking charge, Patel said his interactions during a two-day visit had convinced him that Jharkhand was facing a “serious crisis” under the coalition govt.He alleged that despite governing the state since 2019, the alliance govt had failed to fulfil its promises and had disappointed people on issues including healthcare, education, roads, electricity, drinking water and irrigation.Patel also accused the govt of corruption in the extraction of sand, coal, stone and other minerals. He alleged irregularities in the utilisation of District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) funds, claiming that the state’s natural resources were being “plundered” while the govt remained accountable for the situation.On youth-related concerns, Patel referred to student agitations in Aug and alleged that paper leaks and recruitment controversies had jeopardised the future of lakhs of aspirants. He further claimed that students protesting through democratic means had faced repression.Patel also raised the issue of alleged illegal infiltration and defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He accused the JMM, Congress and RJD of creating confusion and misleading tribal communities on the matter.Congress, a constituent of the alliance, rejected the allegations as baseless. Party spokesperson Rakesh Sinha said Patel was “misleading people and propagating lies” and should first explain the Centre’s 11-year record and its alleged misuse of constitutional institutions.
