6 days ago
Jharkhand Congress Protests New Mines Law Over Revenue Concerns
Jharkhand Congress held protests across all 24 districts against a new mines law.
In Ranchi, workers marched and then held a sit-in at the district collectorate.
The party says the law could reduce the state’s power to collect money from minerals.
Congress leaders say Jharkhand could lose up to Rs 14,000 crore this financial year.
They worry that less money could be available for health, education, housing, pensions, and the Maiyan Samman scheme.
Protesters sent memoranda to President Droupadi Murmu through district officials.
The BJP says Congress is misleading people and that its opposition is baseless.
Congress plans more demonstrations in Ranchi and at block headquarters in September.
Jharkhand Congress held day-long protests at collectorates across all 24 districts on August 27.
The party opposed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, saying it could limit states’ taxation powers.
Congress leaders claimed Jharkhand could lose Rs 14,000 crore in mineral-cess revenue during the current financial year.
The party warned that reduced mineral-cess income could affect health, education, housing, pensions, and the Maiyan Samman scheme.
The BJP called Congress’s opposition baseless, while Congress announced further protests in Ranchi and at block headquarters.
- Who
- Jharkhand Congress workers, led in Ranchi by state president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, with senior leader Subodh Kant Sahai; the Jharkhand BJP responded through president Aditya Sahu.
- What
- Congress staged protests against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, and submitted memoranda seeking presidential intervention.
- Where
- Demonstrations were held at collectorates in all 24 districts of Jharkhand, with the main march in Ranchi and related protests reported in Jamshedpur.
- When
- The protests took place on August 27; further demonstrations were announced for September 7 and September 9–16.
- Why
- Congress alleged that the law would restrict the state’s ability to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, reducing revenue and potentially affecting welfare programs.
Congress’s objections
BJP’s response
State taxation powers
Congress’s objections
Congress says the amended law would restrict Jharkhand’s ability to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands and infringe on the state’s constitutional and economic rights.
BJP’s response
Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu called the opposition baseless and said Congress was using the issue to mislead people and divert attention from real issues.
Revenue and welfare impact
Congress’s objections
Congress leaders claimed the state could lose Rs 14,000 crore in mineral-cess revenue and warned that welfare programs could be affected.
BJP’s response
The BJP response reported in the article did not accept Congress’s revenue or welfare-impact claims and said there was no comparable opposition to the Act elsewhere in the country.
Related Ram Temple allegation
Congress’s objections
Congress leaders raised an allegation of donation theft at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and demanded a high-level, time-bound probe.
BJP’s response
The articles report no substantive response from the BJP to that allegation.
Key facts
- Districts involved
- All 24 districts of Jharkhand
- Act opposed
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026
- Congress’s claimed loss
- Rs 14,000 crore in state-exchequer revenue
- Ranchi protest route
- From Bapu Vatika at Morabadi Ground to the district collectorate
- Memoranda
- Submitted to President Droupadi Murmu through deputy commissioners
- Further protests
- A dharna at Lok Bhavan on September 7 and block-level sit-ins from September 9 to 16
- Programs cited
- Health, education, housing, pensions, and the Maiyan Samman scheme
Quotes
Keshav Mahto Kamlesh
Jharkhand Congress president who led the Ranchi protest
“It is merely a conspiracy to mislead people and divert their attention from the real issues. There is no opposition to the Act anywhere in the country. Even in Congress-ruled states, there is no opposition to it. However, in Jharkhand, the Congress is merely engaging in misleading tactics over this Act.”
theprint.in
“The funds provided financial support for various welfare schemes. Removing the cess on minerals will impact several public welfare initiatives, particularly those related to health, education, housing, pensions, and the ‘Maiyan Samman’ scheme.”
theprint.in
Sources
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