Lohardaga, September 4, 2026: The Jharkhand Congress has announced a statewide protest campaign against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, arguing that the legislation could affect the state’s mineral-related revenue powers and financial autonomy.
Speaking at a press conference in Lohardaga on Friday, Pradesh Congress general secretary and Lohardaga in-charge Alok Kumar Dubey said the party would hold a major demonstration before the Governor in Ranchi on September 7, followed by protests at all block headquarters from September 9 to 16.
The announcement puts mineral rights and the state’s share of revenue from its mineral resources at the centre of a fresh political confrontation in Jharkhand.
Congress questions limits on states’ mineral revenue powers
Dubey argued that Jharkhand bears much of the environmental and social cost of mining, including displacement, pollution, pressure on water resources and damage to forests.
Referring to figures from the Jharkhand Economic Survey 2025-26, he said the state has about 91,812 million tonnes of coal resources and 4.71 billion tonnes of iron ore resources. He further claimed that the value of reported mineral production in 2023-24 was around ₹57,963 crore, with iron ore alone accounting for approximately ₹54,829 crore.
Dubey questioned why a state with such substantial mineral resources should face restrictions on its revenue and economic powers.
He specifically referred to Section 9D of the MMDR Amendment Act, alleging that it places conditions and limits determined by the Centre on the states’ powers relating to taxes, cess and other levies on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land.
The Congress has described the issue as one concerning both fiscal autonomy and the federal structure.
Party cites potential ₹7,110 crore annual revenue
Dubey also referred to a letter reportedly written by Chief Minister Hemant Soren to the Prime Minister, in which potential annual revenue of around ₹7,110 crore for Jharkhand from Mineral Bearing Land Cess was mentioned.
He argued that limiting the state’s ability to generate revenue from mineral-bearing areas could create additional challenges in financing development in rural, tribal and economically weaker regions.
“Minerals will leave the state, profits will leave the state, and if revenue rights are also controlled by the Centre, what will remain for Jharkhand?” Dubey asked.
September 7 rally to precede block-level agitation
The Congress has planned a major rally and demonstration before the Governor in Ranchi on September 7.
According to Dubey, Pradesh Congress in-charge K. Raju and state president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh will lead the mobilisation, with party workers from across Jharkhand expected to participate. Congress ministers, MLAs, former ministers and legislators, district presidents, state office-bearers and leaders of various frontal organisations are also expected to take part.
The campaign will then move to the block level, with demonstrations scheduled at block headquarters across the state from September 9 to 16.
Congress links mineral rights to wider transparency debate
Dubey also referred to the Supreme Court’s 2024 nine-judge Constitution Bench judgment while arguing that the constitutional position concerning states’ mineral rights and taxation powers over mineral-bearing land makes the issue significant for federal relations.
He additionally raised the issue of transparency in political funding and demanded greater public information about the sources of large political donations and the interests associated with them.
The Congress leader also called on BJP leaders Babulal Marandi and Aditya Sahu to state their position clearly on Jharkhand’s mineral and revenue rights.
Lohardaga district Congress president Sukhair Bhagat said the district’s mineral resources should not be viewed merely as a source of profit for mining companies, but as a resource connected with local communities and the state’s development.
The party has said it will mobilise its organisation to make the September 9-16 block-level demonstrations successful.
The statements at the press conference represent the Congress’s political position on the amendment and the distribution of mineral-related revenue powers; the announced protests will determine how prominently the issue features in the state’s political discourse in the coming days.
