Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday accused the Centre of exploiting its vast mineral resources to power the industrial growth of states like Maharashtra and Gujarat at the cost of the state.
He alleged that it pushed Jharkhand to poverty and backwardness due to prolonged neglect.
"Our coal, iron and mica light up big cities in Gujarat and Maharashtra and power the nation's industries but Jharkhand is the most backward state. It has been exploited for long...For the past 20 years BJP has exploited it but we won't allow it...Now we will govern our state," Soren said.
Addressing a rally in Chaibasa as part of the 'Khatiyani Johar Yatra' – a programme to mark three years of the UPA government in the state – Soren stated that now people of Jharkhand will rule the state like Gujaratis rule Gujarat, Bengalis West Bengal and Odiyas rule Odisha.
Soren said the pace of development works has scared BJP and Centre which remains ready to unleash all its central agencies like CBI and Enforcement Directorate to silence and terrorise a democratically elected government.
"Today a youth is standing before the opposition who is the product of a long agitation. We have seen the people from other states running the state for the past 20 years. Other states are being illuminated by resources from Jharkhand while it is forced to go into the darkness. Now the one who talks about 1932-khatiyan will rule in Jharkhand," he said.
He alleged that when a new recruitment policy was framed, BJP could not digest it and opposed it as it prevented outsiders from getting jobs.
"This is the reason we brought 1932 'Khatiyan' (land records)-based domicile policy and have made a provision requiring its inclusion in the ninth schedule to protect peoples' rights."
The ninth schedule of the Constitution contains a list of central and state laws that cannot be challenged in courts.
He promised the youth that very soon large number of recruitment were going to take place including in the police force.
He urged the masses to not to allow BJP to come to power in the 2024 elections.
Elections to the Lok Sabha as well as the Jharkhand Assembly are due in 2024.
