Ranchi, Aug 13 (PTI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the passage of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, accusing it of undermining the state’s rights over its mineral resources and entitlements and warning of a “massive agitation” which the nation will see.
Soren, also the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha president, termed the legislation “black” and charged the BJP-led central government with doing grave injustice to the state.
Earlier in the day, Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to restrict states’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands. The central government, however, asserted that no state would suffer any revenue loss because of the amendment.
Soren said the state would not accept what he described as “stepmotherly treatment” from the Centre and would launch a ‘massive agitation’ that the entire nation will watch.
In a post on X, Soren said, “Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, is a black bill – injustice to Jharkhand, its people. it is a severe blow to their development and future. Minerals belong to Jharkhand; land belongs to Jharkhand; so why should Delhi decide on our rights and entitlements?” Jharkhand accounts for about 40 per cent of the country’s total minerals.
“The Centre passed it in haste, tying Jharkhand’s hands and feet. Jharkhand will launch such a massive agitation to oppose it that the entire nation would see,” Soren said.
He warned that “Jharkhand will not tolerate step-motherly treatment and there will be fierce opposition to this in every district, every block, every panchayat, every town if the Centre fails to withdraw it.” Soren said the impact of the legislation will be such that Jharkhand will have to stop all its welfare schemes providing social security to millions.
“In Jharkhand, schemes providing social security to millions – such as the Maiya Samman Yojana, Abua Awas Yojana, pensions, education, health, and others will be on the verge of closure. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha strongly opposes this. If the central government does not withdraw this black bill, Jharkhand will launch a massive agitation,” he said.
Under the Maiya Samman Yojana, the state government provides Rs 2,500 per month to more than 50 lakh women beneficiaries under the scheme in the age bracket of 18-50 years. The JMM had announced the scheme as its major poll plank in the 2024.
The chief minister demanded immediate withdrawal of the bill.
“If the central government does not come to its senses and does not restore to Jharkhand and its people their rights and entitlements, Jharkhand will not shy away from taking decisive and historic decisions either,” Soren said.
Soren later held a virtual meeting with JMM ministers, MPs and party MLAs to chalk out the future course of action.
The opposition BJP hit back at Soren, saying that mining royalty to states is being provided by the Centre and the nation is moving towards the ‘one nation one tax’ regime.
The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on August 12, while the Rajya Sabha cleared it on Thursday, completing the parliamentary approval process. The bill will become a law after receiving the President’s assent.
While replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said the legislation does not seek to interfere with the autonomy or revenue rights of states, but aims to ensure uniform mineral rates across the country.
The Centre was seeking to regulate major minerals such as coal, limestone, iron ore, copper and manganese, while states would continue to have powers over 49 minor minerals.
Reddy said coal was crucial for power generation, with 73 per cent of India’s electricity generation coming from coal.
States’ share of mineral revenue had risen from 65 per cent in 2014-15 to 85 per cent now, while their share of coal revenue had increased from 51 per cent to 96 per cent, according to the mines minister who added that the Centre receives only about 11 per cent of mineral revenue, with 88 per cent going to states. PTI NAM NN
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