Jharkhand Congress announces Lok Bhavan march on Sept 26 over MMDR Act

Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh on Friday announced that the party would take out a march to Lok Bhavan on September 26 to protest the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, alleging that the legislation undermines the interests and rights of the state.

Kamlesh made the announcement after chairing a meeting of party functionaries at the Congress headquarters in Ranchi to finalise the strategy for the protest. The party had earlier postponed a planned Lok Bhavan march on the issue following the death of JMM minister Sudivya Kumar.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 was passed by Parliament on August 13 and received presidential assent on August 17. Among other changes, it brings mineral-bearing lands within the scope of the Act and restricts state governments from imposing taxes, cess or other levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands except under conditions prescribed by the Centre.

Kamlesh alleged that the Centre's policies were steadily weakening Jharkhand's rights over its mineral resources and the revenue generated from them.

"Attempts are being made to undermine the state's rights over its mineral resources and the revenue derived from them through the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. The Congress will not remain silent on the issue," he said.

Jharkhand is one of India's major mineral-producing states, and Kamlesh said its resources make a significant contribution to the country's development. He maintained that the state should not be deprived of its rights and revenues arising from its natural resources.

The Centre, however, has maintained that the amendment does not take away the states' rights over land and minerals or their existing mineral-related tax revenue, and said around 90 per cent of total taxes and statutory payments in mining continue to accrue to states.

The September 26 march is part of the Congress' continuing opposition to the amended mining law, which the party has argued affects the fiscal and regulatory powers of mineral-rich states.

with inputs from PTI