Jharkhand CM Urges Waiver of ₹13,300 Crore CRPF Dues

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to waive ₹13,299.69 crore in dues owed by the state for the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in anti-Naxal operations. In a letter sent on Friday, Soren argued that forcing the state to pay this amount would severely hamper development schemes, given Jharkhand’s limited resources.

Soren emphasized that combating Naxalism is a joint responsibility of the state and central governments. “I urge the Centre to completely waive the pending dues,” he wrote, invoking cooperative federalism. He highlighted the state’s sacrifices, noting that over 400 police personnel have died in anti-Naxal operations since Jharkhand’s formation in 2000. The state continues to grapple with Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), though Soren credited joint efforts with the CRPF for a significant decline in extremist activities.

The chief minister detailed Jharkhand’s economic challenges, including post-Covid recovery, disaster management, and welfare scheme implementation, which have strained state finances. The ₹13,300 crore liability, he warned, would cripple development initiatives. Jharkhand Police reported ongoing efforts to curb Naxalism, with 197 Maoists arrested, 10 surrendered, and 17 killed in the past six months, alongside a manhunt for 55 Naxalites carrying a ₹8.45 crore bounty.

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Soren’s plea follows his earlier demands for the Centre to clear ₹1.36 lakh crore in coal dues, raised during the 27th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting on July 11, 2025. Shah had then assured cooperation in eradicating Naxalism by March 2026. The letter underscores Jharkhand’s call for financial relief to sustain both security and development efforts in the LWE-affected state.

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