Ranchi, August 15: The BJP has responded to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s opposition to the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. Aditya Sahu, the BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP, accused the Chief Minister of misleading the public for political gain. He stated that the concerns raised by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the opposition are unfounded.
Sahu emphasized that the issue of mineral cess is not limited to Jharkhand but pertains to the entire country. The amendment aims to bring uniformity to the system. He noted that the central government is working to create a consistent framework in the mineral sector. The bill does not eliminate the rights of states over land and minerals. He added that state governments can impose taxes, cesses, or other levies on minerals, provided they adhere to the rules and conditions set by the central government.
Sahu claimed that the bill would not affect the royalties, auction premiums, District Mineral Foundations, National Mineral Exploration Trust, or GST shares received by the states. He described the legislation as a step towards making the mining sector more transparent, competitive, and investment-friendly, which would enhance investment, production, employment, infrastructure, and energy security. Sahu also questioned the Chief Minister’s concerns regarding the impact on schemes like Manya Samman and Abua Awas.
He accused the government of using fear of these schemes being halted to divert attention from its failures. Criticizing the state government for the auction of mineral blocks, he pointed out that while 434 mineral blocks were auctioned across the country, only three were auctioned in Jharkhand. In contrast, Odisha auctioned 45 and Chhattisgarh 49 blocks. He urged the state government to focus on auctions to increase revenue from the mineral sector.
Sahu also alleged irregularities in the DMF fund, claiming that around ₹2,000 crores were mismanaged in several districts, including Bokaro, Chaibasa, Ranchi, Koderma, Ramgarh, and Dhanbad. He specifically mentioned a ₹631 crore irregularity in Bokaro, although these allegations have not been independently verified.
He raised concerns about students protesting against alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitments in Jharkhand. During such critical times, he questioned whether the Chief Minister’s announcement of a new movement was an attempt to distract from the students’ issues.
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