Ranchi: Warning the Centre not to force it to “return to the 1980s”, the ruling JMM on Thursday threatened to launch an economic blockade to prevent minerals from leaving Jharkhand if the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, is not withdrawn. The party claimed the legislation would deprive the state of nearly Rs 15,000 crore annually, crippling its development and welfare programmes.The JMM accused the Union govt of attacking the country’s federal structure and announced plans for a phased statewide agitation. The campaign will begin with a Jan Jagran, or public awareness drive, followed by bandhs and, if necessary, an economic blockade.“If the Centre remains hellbent on paralysing Jharkhand’s development, we will ensure that not a single mined item leaves the state,” JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey said at a press conference on Thursday night.According to the party, the legislation would cost Jharkhand around Rs 15,000 crore a year. It also claimed that the state’s pending mining-related dues were close to Rs 2 lakh crore and alleged that the amendment sought to nullify those claims.“Our fight is not against mining companies, industries or investors. Our fight is against the murder of the country’s federal structure,” Pandey said. He added that chief minister Hemant Soren had asked party cadres to remain prepared for the “war”.Pandey claimed that once the amendment becomes law, it would severely constrain the state govt’s ability to finance its welfare schemes.Pointing to the environmental damage and displacement caused by mining, the JMM questioned why Jharkhand should be denied rights over its land and mineral resources when local communities bear the consequences of extraction.The party also alleged that the BJP-led Centre was targeting Jharkhand because of the electoral mandate secured by the JMM-led alliance. Besides taking to the streets, the JMM said it was considering legal action and would seek meetings with the President and the Prime Minister.
