BJP State spokesperson Pratul Shahdev, while addressing a press conference at the state headquarters today, said that Chief Minister Hemant Soren is trying to divert people's attention by misinterpreting the order of the Supreme Court to give the outstanding amount to the states. Pratul said that the Supreme Court had given a historic decision in the case of Mineral Area Development Authority Vs Steel Authority of India and others in August 2024. The Supreme Court had made it clear in its direction that this order would also apply to all those states which were not parties to this case.
Pratul said that the BJP is fully committed to getting the state its due rights. But, the question is where did the amount of Rs 1.36 lakh crore, which the Chief Minister and JMM have repeatedly mentioned, come from. Pratul said that the state government is accepting compensation of around 60,000 crores in the form of interest, whereas the Supreme Court had banned the state governments from taking interest on the outstanding amount.
Pratul said that it is clear in this judgment that the outstanding amount of the states will be paid in 12 installments in 12 years. Point 27.2 of the Supreme Court order clearly states that the payment of installments of the outstanding amount is to start from April 1, 2026, which will continue till April 1, 2037. Pratul said that in point 27.3 of the same judgment, the Supreme Court has directed that no interest and penalty will be assessed before July 25, 2024.
Pratul said that the Chief Minister had welcomed this direction of the Supreme Court on 14 August 2024 and expressed gratitude. The Chief Minister had also written in the post of X that now Jharkhand will get the outstanding amount in a phased manner in 12 years. Then it is surprising that why the state government and the Chief Minister and different leaders demand immediate payment of 1,36,000 crores from the Center from various forums?
Pratul said that in fact the Chief Minister had announced countless populist schemes at the time of elections, in which more than two and a half lakh crores are estimated to be spent in the next 5 years. The state is unable to raise this money from its internal sources. Maiya Samman Yojana is a vivid example in which it was said to give its benefits to all the Maiya without eligibility. But now eligibility has been added to it as well. The CM knows that he cannot fulfil the populist promises he made before his election. That is why he is repeatedly creating a false narrative about the amount of Rs. 1,36,000 crore due from the Centre, despite the clear instructions of the Supreme Court. This is just an excuse to hoodwink the people of Jharkhand.
Tariq Imran was also present at the press conference.