BJP must explain delay in releasing ₹1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhand before seeking votes: Congress
Congress claimed Centre owes Jharkhand lakhs of crores of rupees in coal royalties and central scheme benefits; why this 'step-motherly treatment' to JMM-Congress ruled state?
Even as BJP is trying to wrest power from the ruling JMM-Congress coalition in Jharkhand in the upcoming assembly polls, the Congress on Sunday asked the BJP to explain why it has delayed in releasing ₹1.36 lakh crore to the state for pending coal royalties before seeking votes from the people.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed the Centre owes Jharkhand lakhs of crores of rupees in coal royalties and central scheme benefits.
In Jharkhand, coal mines are operated by subsidiaries of the Coal India Limited which owe huge sums of money to the state government, he claimed.
There is an outstanding of ₹1,01,142 crore for "non-payment of land compensation", ₹32,000 crore under "common cause dues" head, and ₹2,500 crore under "washed coal royalty" head, the Congress leader said.
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BJP's 'step-motherly treatment' to Jharkhand
Questioning the BJP's Jharkhand unit, he asked why it failed to secure funds for the state and why was the prime minister silent.
"Why has the non-biological PM failed to release these funds? Is step-motherly treatment being administered to Jharkhand for voting for the JMM-INC alliance? Why is the state BJP leadership unable to secure any funds for the State?" Ramesh asked in a post on X.
"Before seeking a single vote from the people of Jharkhand, the BJP must provide an account for this delay in the release of 1.36 lakh crores to the state," the Congress leader said.
Jharkhand goes to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20.