Hemant Soren, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Jharkhand, declared shortly after assuming office that his government would file a lawsuit to recover Rs 1.36 trillion in coal debt from the central government. On Thursday, Soren took the oath of office as chief minister.
As he briefed the public on the conclusions of his current government's first cabinet meeting, Soren stated, "Legal action will be initiated to realize Rs 1.36 lakh crore of the state pending with the Center."
The declaration was made just twenty-five days after he asked the Center "with folded hands" to pay the state's coal debt.
No minister took oath during the day, despite the CM's claim that the decision was made at the "Cabinet meeting."
In Delhi on Tuesday, Soren met with Prime Minister Modi for the first time since his reelection. They talked about state issues and Soren invited the PM to his swearing-in ceremony.
"The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand," he wrote on X on November 2. I implore them once more to pay the Rs 1.36 trillion in unpaid coal debts owed to Jharkhandis. This sum is essential to Jharkhand.
Soren shared a copy of a letter to the prime minister along with the post. "I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues," Soren wrote.
Soren asserted that "non-clearance is causing irreparable harm to Jharkhand's development" and emphasized that the state still owes "rightful" dues to central PSUs like Coal India.
A nine-judge Supreme Court panel recently upheld the state's entitlement to receive its mining and royalties. Soren emphasized that the failure to pay dues is impeding Jharkhand's growth and vital socioeconomic initiatives.
