Political friction in Jharkhand has escalated as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over mineral resources, sand tenders, and central mining legislation. In Garhwa, BJP District Media In-charge Ritesh Chaubey dismissed JMM’s protest against the MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act as a mere 'political gimmick.' Chaubey alleged that the state government is trying to mislead the public to divert attention from its operational failures and unfulfilled promises.
'MMDR Act is in Public Interest, JMM's Agitation a Drama': BJP
Speaking to the press in Garhwa, BJP media in-charge Ritesh Chaubey asserted that the Union Government enacted amendments to the MMDR Act to bring transparency, protect valuable mineral wealth, and curb unlawful exploitation. He stressed that the law operates in the national and public interest to prevent systemic looting of natural resources.
Chaubey charged that JMM is misinforming citizens by depicting the central legislation as harmful to Jharkhand's local interests. According to the BJP leader, the ruling party's protest is aimed entirely at shielding ongoing illegal mining networks flourishing across the state.
"The Central Government enacted the MMDR Act to ensure transparency and protect mineral wealth in public interest. JMM's protest is nothing but a political gimmick to cover up its own failures." — Ritesh Chaubey, BJP District Media In-charge, Garhwa
Delay in Sand Tenders and Allegations of Illegal Mining
Questioning the state government's inaction, Chaubey demanded to know why sand ghat tenders and auction processes remain stalled across Jharkhand. He pointed out that due to the lack of legal tenders, common citizens are facing severe shortages of construction sand, driving prices to unaffordable levels.
The BJP leader claimed that delaying official sand auctions is a deliberate strategy to allow sand mafias to illegally extract riverbed sand under political protection. He alleged that illegal trade in coal, sand, and stone is thriving unchecked throughout the state without any fear of law enforcement.
Impact on Local Construction and Citizens
The acute shortage of legally sourced sand has hit private residential construction as well as welfare projects like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana hard. Contractors and daily wage construction workers across districts including Garhwa are struggling due to halted projects, while citizens are forced to buy black-market sand at exorbitant rates.
The BJP reiterated its warning that unless the state government immediately initiates transparent sand tenders and stops illegal extraction, the party will launch widespread public agitations across Jharkhand.
