News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 29th November 2024
Hemant Soren declared shortly after taking office that his government would file a lawsuit to recover its Rs 1.36 trillion coal debt from the central government. On Thursday, Soren was sworn in as chief minister. “Legal action will be initiated to realise Rs 1.36 lakh crore of the state pending with the Centre,” Soren informed the media as he presented the rulings of his current government’s first cabinet meeting.
Less than twenty-five days had passed since he asked the Center “with folded hands” to pay the state’s coal debt. No minister took oath during the day, despite the CM’s claim that the decision was made at the “Cabinet meeting.”
In Delhi on Tuesday, Soren met with Prime Minister Modi for the first time since his reelection. They talked about state issues and Soren invited the PM to his swearing-in ceremony.
On November 2, he had posted on X: “The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand. I once again request them with folded hands to clear the outstanding (coal dues) of Rs 1.36 trillion to Jharkhandis. This amount is crucial for Jharkhand.” “I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues,” Soren had posted, sharing a copy of a letter to the prime minister.
Soren asserted that “non-clearance is causing irreparable harm to Jharkhand’s development” and emphasized that the state still owes “rightful” dues to central PSUs like Coal India. A nine-judge Supreme Court panel recently upheld the state’s entitlement to receive its mining and royalties. Soren emphasized that the failure to pay dues is impeding Jharkhand’s growth and vital socioeconomic initiatives.
