Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
The Jharkhand Mahagathbandhan on Sunday opposed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, alleging that it infringes upon the constitutional and financial rights of states.
At a joint press conference at the RJD state office in Ranchi, alliance leaders said the issue was not limited to Jharkhand but concerned the protection of India’s federal structure and the constitutional rights of states.
The leaders cited the 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court’s nine-judge Constitution Bench, claiming that it had recognised the states’ constitutional powers concerning mineral rights and taxation on mineral-bearing land. They alleged that the Centre was now seeking to restrict these powers through the amendment bill.
RJD vice-president Anita Yadav said Jharkhand’s mineral wealth belonged to its people and urged the Centre to respect the state’s constitutional rights in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
CPI leader Ajay Kumar said opposition parties were united on the issue and announced that an INDIA bloc meeting would be held on August 22 to decide the future course of action.
Youth RJD state president Ranjan Kumar Yadav and CPI(ML) leaders Shubhendu Sen and Anant Prasad Gupta also criticised the proposed legislation, saying weakening states’ mineral-related revenue could adversely affect welfare and development programmes.
The Mahagathbandhan decided to submit a memorandum to the Governor, addressed to the President, seeking withdrawal of the amendment bill.
The leaders said they would continue their democratic and constitutional struggle to protect Jharkhand’s economic and financial interests.
