Sit-In Planned at DC Office in Jamshedpur on August 27
Key Points:
- Banna Gupta Announces Nationwide Congress Agitation
- Protests to Escalate From District to State to Block Level
- Party Demands Independent Audit of Ram Temple Donations
JAMSHEDPUR – The Indian National Congress and the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee will launch a nationwide agitation against the amended MMDR Bill and alleged irregularities in donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.
The announcement was made at a press conference organised by the district Congress committee at Tilak Library in Bishtupur on Tuesday. District executive president Awadhesh Singh presided over the event, during which former minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta was welcomed with a shawl.
Addressing the press conference, Gupta said the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill-2026, brought by the central government, along with alleged irregularities in donations at the Ram temple, had prompted the party to launch the countrywide movement.
He said the first phase of the agitation would see a sit-in protest staged in front of the Jamshedpur deputy commissioner’s office on August 27, 2026. A memorandum addressed to the President of India will be submitted through the deputy commissioner during the demonstration.
Following this, a state-level mega sit-in will be held in front of the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on September 7. Between September 9 and 16, similar sit-in protests will be organised at block headquarters across the state.
Gupta described the MMDR amendment bill as a step that weakens the state’s rights over its water, forest, land and mineral resources. He argued that Jharkhand’s mineral wealth has contributed significantly to the country’s industrial growth, even as the state has had to bear the burden of displacement, pollution and unemployment in return.
He said the interests of Jharkhand’s residents must be given top priority in the use of the state’s mineral resources.
Gupta demanded that the state’s rights over its mineral resources be protected, that local people be given priority in employment, and that the rights of environment and tribal-indigenous communities be safeguarded. He also said the federal structure must be respected and the role of states should not be undermined.
On the issue of alleged irregularities in Ram temple donations, the Congress has demanded an independent audit of the donation amount, gold, silver and other valuables collected at the temple. The party also sought a probe into CCTV footage, greater transparency in financial transactions, and strict action against those found guilty.
Gupta said the matter was not about religion or faith but concerned the trust and transparency owed to crores of devotees.
The Congress protest adds to a wider round of opposition to the mining bill across the state. Former state Congress president Rajesh Thakur had earlier criticised the bill in Bokaro, while the JMM had also separately protested against the mining act. Meanwhile, the party’s stance drew attention in a report on Hemant Soren and the bill’s political fallout.
Separately, the Ram temple donation issue has also seen developments at the national level, with the Special Investigation Team recently clearing Champat Rai and Anil Mishra of allegations in a related theft case.
District executive president Awadhesh Singh appealed to all Congress office-bearers, workers, front and platform members, and the general public to join the August 27 demonstration.
