Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said that with auctioning of coal blocks for commercial mining, states such as Jharkhand will be benefitted as economic activities will gain pace. Pradhan’s remark through virtual rally as part of Jharkhand Jan Samvad rally has come at the time when the Hemant Soren government in State has knocked at the door of Supreme Court challenging the Central government's decision to unveil the process for the virtual auction of coal blocks.
Prior to Pradhan, State BJP president and newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash too has slammed State Government decision to approach Supreme Court challenging the auctioning of coal blocks.
The State president had said that during this corona crisis when economic activities in State have come to standstill and State Government is sweeping tears of empty treasury, the auctioning of coal blocks for commercial mining will create employment opportunities and give momentum to economic activities in State. Last week Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced commercial coal mining for the private sector through auctions designed to boost production, reduce imports and raise state revenues. The auction of 41 coal blocks is expected to attract Rs 33,000 crore in investments with private miners sharing revenues with the government.
Jharkhand plea is that a proper assessment related to the adverse impact on a huge tribal population and forests has not been done and a detailed study covering all aspects of the decision is required.
Pradhan launched a scathing attack on Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi and said that those who are asking questions on issues of China from the government are those who compromised with China during their government tenure. Pradhan said, “Today Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a free hand to the Army, but Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by raising a query is working to break the morale of the Army.” Eulogizing Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the minister said Bhagwan Birsa Munda did not fight a personal battle against the British rule, nor did his fight was to make his son chief minister or protect personal interests, but his struggle was Suraaj.
The virtual rally of BJP was attended by Union Tribal Affairs minister Arjun Munda, BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi, State BJP president and newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash among others.
Arjun Munda on the occasion said that the Narendra Modi government has done several works which the Congress government had failed to do in 55 years. Munda talked about abolition of Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, paving way for construction of huge Ram Temple in Ayodhya as per Court order among others.
Babulal Marandi speaking on the occasion talked about rise in Left Wing Extremist (LWE) menace in the state. He said in six months more than 40 big and small LWE incidents have occurred in the State. The virtual rally of Pradhan was attended by workers from 513 mandals.
