Sarina Hansda, 36, a resident of Jharkhand, is a Santal tribe. Her husband’s name is Muhammad Ejaz.
The two lived in two houses facing each other in Barhet village of Sahebganj district of Jharkhand. They got married 14 years ago out of love for each other. Sarina Hansda is now Panchayat Pradhan.
During the Jharkhand assembly election campaign, she was saddened by the way her husband and the local Muslim community were being targeted as ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’.
In her words, “I am a tribal woman. My husband is Muslim. We have an election going on here, that’s why journalists are coming here.”
During the election campaign, the BJP has been constantly claiming that ‘Bangladeshi intruders’ are marrying tribal women there (in Jharkhand) and enjoying all the benefits of their share. Not only that, the land of those women is also being grabbed.
Regarding such allegations, Sarina Hansda says, “We are being given some benefits because of being tribals, so we are taking advantage. It is within the ambit of that right that I got the opportunity to contest the village head election. It has nothing to do with our marriage.”
“We have the right to choose our life partner and it should not be politicized. Discussions in the region are based on rumors that Bangladeshi infiltrators or Muslims are grabbing tribal lands. But in reality you will find that it (BJP’s claim) has no effect.”
Her husband Muhammad Ejaz also gave his statement in this regard. According to him, “BJP has repeatedly raised the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration during our elections here, but they will not find Bangladeshis here.”
He also told about his family. Muhammad Ejaz said, “We are truly Indian. We have been here since before 1927. We have been here since the British surveyed.”
“Even then our names are being added to the list of Bangladeshi infiltrators. BJP has no more issues in the election.”
source: bbc