Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren criticized the Centre for neglecting the state in the Union budget and accused BJP leaders of being silent about the dues owed to Jharkhand by the Centre. He demanded that the Centre pay the state’s dues of Rs 1.36 lakh crore and questioned why Jharkhand is being neglected despite providing 12 out of 14 MPs in 2014 and 2019 and having 9 NDA MPs currently. Soren also pointed out the special financial measures announced for BJP allies Bihar and Andhra Pradesh in the budget, and questioned why Jharkhand, which is also ruled by NDA, is not receiving similar treatment. He also brought up the issue of DVC’s dues of Rs 5,000 crore, which were deducted from the state’s account without informing them during former Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ tenure. Soren also expressed his concern that the budget was favoring “billionaire friends” at the cost of farmers, who make up a significant portion of India’s population.
Jharkhand’s CM expressed disappointment over the Centre’s neglect towards a state where a majority of people depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
