Ranchi, August 13: Pradeep Yadav, the leader of the Congress legislative party in Jharkhand, has voiced strong opposition to the ‘Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026,’ recently passed by the Lok Sabha. He criticized the bill for undermining the constitutional and financial rights of states and demanded its immediate withdrawal by the central government.
In a statement released on Thursday, Yadav highlighted that a Supreme Court ruling by a nine-judge bench had granted states the authority to impose additional levies on mineral resources. He argued that the new amendment attempts to restrict this authority, which he views as a threat to cooperative federalism and the economic autonomy of states.
Yadav emphasized that mineral resources are a crucial foundation for Jharkhand’s economy, warning that the proposed amendment could have widespread implications for the state. He accused the central government of working towards making states more dependent on revenue from their resources.
The Congress leader pointed out that the state government runs several welfare programs for the poor, women, farmers, and other vulnerable groups. He claimed that any impact on rights related to mineral revenue could affect the funding of these initiatives. Notably, he mentioned the ‘Maiyya Samman Yojana,’ stating that it could significantly affect many women in the state.
Yadav confirmed that Congress has opposed this bill in Parliament and will also mobilize in Jharkhand to protect the state’s rights. He stressed that the protection of Jharkhand’s rights concerning water, forests, land, and mineral wealth is not just a political issue but also tied to the state’s economic interests.
He urged the central government to rise above political differences and respect the constitutional rights of states. Yadav called for a reconsideration of the proposed amendment, asserting that any move to weaken state rights and financial federalism will not be tolerated.
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