Ranchi, August 14: The Congress party has rallied against the central government regarding the Mining Bill, supporting Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s letter to Prime Minister Modi for reconsideration. Congress leader Kishore Nath Shahdev accused the central government of steering the nation towards a monarchy, asserting that the BJP lacks faith in the federal structure and democracy.
In an interview with a news agency, Shahdev stated, “The Congress party has dedicated the last 80 years to strengthening democracy in the country. On the other hand, the BJP in the central government shows no trust in the federal framework or democracy. They aim to lead the nation towards a monarchy.”
He emphasized that regarding Jharkhand’s rights, “The land is ours, the rights are ours, but the taxes belong to them! This is completely unjust and will not be tolerated. States have their rights in a federal structure, and the center has its own. The Chief Minister and several senior Congress leaders have stated that this is a gross injustice to Jharkhand.”
Shahdev pointed out that the central government seeks to monopolize the cess on mining, a major source of revenue for Jharkhand. “This indicates a desire to transition the country towards a monarchy. The people of the state will unite against this. The Chief Minister has urged for a significant movement in the future to reclaim our rights.”
Regarding the student protests, Shahdev appealed to students to abandon their hunger strikes and engage in dialogue with the government to express their demands. He noted that the government claims to have accepted 95-98 percent of their requests, and students should work towards advancing the matter. The government has also mentioned that some demands cannot be addressed due to legal hurdles. “Everyone supports the students’ demands. Our government representatives, including ministers and even the Chief Minister, have addressed their issues with sensitivity,” he added.
Former Jharkhand Congress President Rajesh Thakur stated that there has been no lack of communication from the state government towards the students. However, he acknowledged that the protesters’ expectations have not yet been met, citing various constraints faced by the government. Despite this, the government continues to engage in dialogue. Thakur urged students to maintain unwavering trust in the state government, assuring that the actions they seek will be facilitated by Rahul Gandhi.
On the reconsideration of the Mining Bill, Thakur remarked that the bill attempts to undermine the dignity of mining operations. He warned that it poses a threat to the federal structure and will adversely affect companies that have promised to invest in the region over the past 12 years, ultimately depriving Jharkhand of its rightful share.
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