State Bureau, Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren took a sharp dig at BJP leaders on Wednesday regarding comments made about coal royalty dues. Referring to the “Kab Milega 1.36 Lakh Crore” campaign on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Our demands as Jharkhandis are not baseless, Babulal Ji. This is our right, our hard-earned money.
Your opposition to the rightful demands of Jharkhandis is truly disheartening. When you should have stood with us with the full strength of your organization, you chose to oppose us instead. Nevertheless, we will certainly claim our rightful dues because this money belongs to every single Jharkhandi.”
A Major Election Issue
It is worth noting that the ₹1.36 lakh crore coal royalty dues became a significant issue during the recently concluded Jharkhand Assembly elections. The issue gave the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition an opportunity to launch scathing attacks against the BJP. Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, aggressively raised this issue, conducting campaigns and cornering the central government on this matter.
Recently, in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for Coal stated that the central government does not owe Jharkhand any dues under this category. This statement, made in response to a question from Purnea MP Pappu Yadav, has reignited the political debate.
On the other hand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has issued an ultimatum, warning that if the dues are not paid, not even a single piece of coal will leave the state. The Department of Land Reforms and Revenue has also initiated correspondence with coal-mining companies operating in the state, seeking clarification on the matter. Responses have been demanded within two weeks, signaling that this issue is likely to escalate further in the coming days.
Legal Battle Preparation
According to the Jharkhand government, coal companies owe ₹1.36 lakh crore to the state as royalty. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has previously written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other concerned ministers on this issue. The government is now preparing for a legal battle to secure these dues.
During its first cabinet meeting after Hemant Soren’s swearing-in on November 28, the government decided to proceed with legal action. Senior advocates will form a panel to advance the legal battle. With the central government denying the claim, tensions are likely to increase. A dispute with coal companies could also impact mining and supply operations.
