THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, July 8: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), accusing it of levelling baseless allegations against the central government to distract from its own “abysmal track record” over the past six years.
Centre Committed to Jharkhand’s Growth: ₹9,853 Cr in Rail Budget
Pratul highlighted that the Union Government has consistently extended full support to Jharkhand’s development. “In the Union Budget 2024–25, the Centre allocated ₹9,853 crore to the state for railway projects, including the modernisation of Ranchi, Hatia, and other stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme,” he said.
He further noted that Jharkhand continues to receive its rightful share through royalty and GST from mining, countering the JMM’s claims of financial neglect.
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Hemant Govt Has Betrayed Welfare Schemes
Calling out rampant corruption in state implementation, Pratul alleged that the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jharkhand has been reduced to a “loot scheme,” causing the state to fall far below the national average—a situation he labelled “shameful.”
He added, “More than 10,000 km of rural roads have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, yet the state government has nothing to show for it.”
He also pointed to the ₹12,000+ crore received under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) scheme for the development of mining-affected areas, and yet, the state remains underdeveloped in these zones.
Unspent Funds and Empty Promises
Highlighting administrative inefficiency, Pratul said, “Despite receiving over ₹86,000 crore under MNREGA for 2024–25, Jharkhand is plagued by delayed payments and corruption. The blame lies squarely with the Hemant government.”
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has allocated more than ₹1,200 crore for Jharkhand this year, and yet the funds remain unused. Similarly, under the 15th Finance Commission, the state was allocated over ₹31,000 crore between 2021 and 2026.
“On the one hand, the government demands funds; on the other, the Finance Minister himself admits that multiple departments—including agriculture—have recorded zero expenditure three months into the financial year,” he said.
Pratul also referred to a power outage during a recent cabinet meeting, calling it symbolic of the state’s crumbling governance.
JMM Should Focus on Its Own Failures
“Before pointing fingers at the Centre, JMM should look inward. Their governance has failed on every front—from infrastructure to law and order,” he said.
Purnia Incident ‘Tragic’, But JMM Can’t Hide Its Own Crime Stats
Addressing the recent Purnia incident, Pratul expressed sorrow, stating that the Bihar government acted swiftly with an FIR and immediate raids.
However, he said, “JMM has no moral high ground to speak on law and order. According to NCRB data, Bihar’s crime rate has dropped by 30% in 2024 compared to 2012–14 (UPA era).”
“In contrast, Jharkhand under JMM has witnessed over 8,000 rapes in the last five and a half years, with nearly a third of the victims being tribal girls. This exposes the harsh truth behind the so-called ‘Abua Raj’,” he concluded.
