Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
BJP State President Aditya Sahu stated that the Congress party’s opposition to the MMDR Amendment Act is absurd and baseless. He called it merely a conspiracy to mislead the country and divert attention from real issues, adding that Congress has become an issue-less party whose long-standing nature is to derail public discourse. Sahu was addressing a press conference held at the party’s state headquarters.
Sahu remarked that democracy operates on public accountability and ethics, but the Congress party has completely cast these aside. He said it has become second nature for Congress to repeatedly mislead the public, twist and distort good laws and positive developments, and misinform citizens.
He further stated that there is no opposition to the MMDR Amendment Act anywhere in the country, not even in Congress-ruled states. However, in Jharkhand, Congress is using this act solely to misguide people. While a massive student protest is underway, fake cases are being registered, and the police are threatening and intimidating students, Congress is attempting to divert attention from the matter.
Sahu accused Congress of treating Jharkhand as an “ATM,” looting the state by exploiting this ATM as per their convenience. He claimed Congress is opposing this act only because their illegal income from coal is about to end, leading to their current restlessness. He added that Congress’s lifelong history of looting the nation persists today. Although Congress is trying to mislead people through events across various districts, the public no longer takes them seriously, having closely observed their tenure.
He affirmed that every BJP worker will take to the streets to foil their motives and that the public will give them a fitting reply for confusing people.
He questioned why entrepreneurs in Jharkhand would purchase expensive local coal when neighboring states offer coal and iron ore at cheaper rates. He accused the Jharkhand government of running a racket of extortion in the name of cess, levying ₹600 per ton on iron ore and ₹450 per ton on coal, whereas neighboring states charge significantly lower rates.
Citing the condition of BCCL, he mentioned a recent meeting with the union Coal minister, who shared that BCCL’s situation has severely deteriorated due to large-scale theft occurring under state government patronage and police collusion. Today, the situation is so dire that without financial assistance from the Central Government, BCCL would struggle even to pay employee salaries, as its revenue is insufficient. He stated that BCCL is effectively on the verge of closure.
