Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has criticised the Centre over changes to the mining and minerals law, arguing that states should be consulted before decisions are taken on natural resources.
Soren made the remarks after chairing an extended central committee meeting of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) at Sohrai Bhawan in Harmu, Ranchi, on Thursday.
Soren Raises Concern Over State Rights
Soren said several decisions taken by the Centre affect both state governments and citizens. He argued that policies related to natural resources should consider the rights and interests of states.
He said Jharkhand, with its large mineral reserves, could face one of the biggest impacts from changes in mining and mineral laws.
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Mining Sector Key to Jharkhand’s Economy
The Chief Minister said Jharkhand has been moving forward on development, with the state government implementing various welfare and development programmes.
He warned that changes in the mining framework could affect the state’s economic interests, revenue and development plans. Referring to ₹1.36 lakh crore, Soren also questioned the Centre’s broader policies.
He alleged that some central policies could make states more financially dependent instead of helping them become economically stronger.
Jharkhand to Continue Its Fight
Soren said mineral resources are closely linked to employment and economic activity in Jharkhand. Any major change in the regulatory framework could therefore have wider implications for the state and its people.
He said Jharkhand would continue to protect its rights and interests and would pursue the matter through democratic means.
The meeting was attended by JMM MPs Vijay Hansda, Mahua Maji and Nalin Soren, along with senior leaders and MLAs including Prof Stephen Marandi, Hemlal Murmu, Kalpana Soren and Vinod Pandey.
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