Ranchi, Nov 29: Senior Congress leader and former Jharkhand Education Minister Bandhu Tirkey has accused the Modi government and the BJP of deliberately creating an economic crisis in Jharkhand to break the ruling coalition.
Speaking at his Ranchi residence on Friday, he alleged that BJP leaders are frustrated after defeats in the 2024 assembly polls and the recent Ghatsila bypoll and are now trying to destabilise the current state government.
Tirkey further alleged that the Centre is weakening Jharkhand financially by forcing the state to deposit funds meant for central schemes, along with accrued interest, directly with the Reserve Bank through the e-Kuber portal. He said 18 departments have been ordered to deposit nearly Rs 2,425 crore, calling the directive “unusual” and “harmful” for the state’s finances.
As per Tirkey, interest earned on these funds earlier helped run several government schemes, which will now be affected.
He further claimed that Jharkhand is owed about Rs 1.36 lakh crore by central coal companies, yet the Centre has not released the dues. Tirkey said he has written to senior BJP leaders, including Babulal Marandi and Union Minister Sanjay Seth, urging them to push for the state’s pending amount.
The former minister said development work has slowed because the state is unsure about funds, resulting in delayed tenders and halted schemes. He added that students from tribal, OBC, and minority communities are suffering as scholarships are stuck due to lack of central funding.
Tirkey also demanded that the Centre immediately release Jharkhand’s dues and withdraw the RBI deposit order. Meanwhile, he also showered praise on Chief Minister Hemant Soren for providing jobs to over 9,000 youth despite financial pressure.
