Ranchi: Asserting that “state-sponsored infiltration” was a serious threat to Jharkhand , Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said India was not a ‘dharmshala’ where anyone can come and settle.

Addressing an election rally in Ranchi, he accused the JMM-led ruling coalition of patronising infiltrators, and alleged that they were coming to the state, marrying tribal women by “trapping them in the web of illusion”.

“India is not a dharmshala where anyone can come and settle. Foreign infiltrators pose a grave threat to Jharkhand. This country is ours — our land, water, forests, rivers, mountains, and fields. We will not let anyone else take those from us,” he said.

“The JMM-led alliance considers these intruders as its vote bank. In their greed for votes, they are protecting them, getting them enrolled on the voters’ list, and helping them get Aadhaar and ration cards. The situation is such that tribal population in Santhal Parganas has come down from 44 per cent to 28 per cent,” he claimed.

Chouhan said if the BJP is voted to power in the state, a citizenship register will be made and the infiltrators will be ousted.

Addressing the BJP’s women’s conference in East Singhbhum district, he accused the JMM-led government of not implementing the PM Awas Yojana properly in the state.

He said that if the scheme was implemented properly, women would have got pucca houses by now.

“BJP will build pucca houses for the women who still living in kutcha houses,” Chouhan said.

He also alleged corruption of Rs 5,000 crores in piped water scheme Har Ghar Nal Se Jal Yojana.

“The government started giving women Rs 1,000 per month only when the election was approaching,” he said.

Chouhan said women would be provided Rs 2,100 per month under if the BJP is voted to power in the state.

Polling will be held in Jharkhand on November 13 and 20. The votes will be counted on November 23.