Dhanbad: BJP on Friday welcomed the Centre’s amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, describing it as a “timely and commendable” step to strengthen the mining sector.State BJP president Aditya Sahu criticised chief minister Hemant Soren for opposing the amendment, alleging that the state govt had raised objections without properly understanding its provisions.Sahu said the amendment was applicable to all states and had been introduced to address changing requirements in the mining sector. “Amending the MMDR Act is the need of the hour. The opposition by the Hemant Soren govt is unnecessary,” he said.He alleged that opposing every decision taken by the Centre had become the state govt’s political strategy, irrespective of its potential benefits. Instead, the govt should focus on employment generation and Jharkhand’s development, he added.Sahu also claimed that the Centre’s policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accelerated growth across sectors since 2014.Targeting the Hemant govt over unemployment, he alleged that it had failed to create adequate jobs for the state’s youth, forcing many to migrate in search of work. “The govt should seriously address the problems faced by the youth instead of wasting time opposing amendments to mining laws,” Sahu said.Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha and MP Dulu Mahato were also present.In a related development, JMM on Friday called a meeting of all party cadres in Ranchi on Aug 20 to plan the statewide protest announced by the CM against passage of the Act. In a letter issued Friday, JMM general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey said party cadres must attend the meeting. “During the meeting, the current political situation arising in the state from the ‘anti-Jharkhand’ legislation passed by the Centre will be discussed, and decisions on the course of action will be taken,” Pandey said. He said the meeting will also discuss the party’s organisational restructuring.(Inputs from Dhrubajyoti Malakar in Ranchi)
