Jharkhand CM urges waiver of ₹13,299.69 cr CRPF dues in letter to Union Home Minister

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting a complete waiver of ₹13,299.69 crore billed to the state as dues for the deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) units engaged in anti-Naxal operations.

In his letter, Soren underlined that the burden of internal security, particularly Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), is a joint responsibility of the Centre and the state. The CM flagged concerns that enforcing this financial liability would place a significant strain on the state’s already stressed resources and could impede development activities and welfare programs.

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The communication comes at a time when the state is grappling with post-pandemic economic recovery, climate-induced disasters, and the need to maintain continuity in various public welfare initiatives. Soren said that the fiscal load of repaying CRPF deployment costs under such conditions would severely undermine Jharkhand’s capacity to implement core development schemes.

The Chief Minister noted that Jharkhand has historically been among the most affected states by LWE and that both state police and central forces have worked jointly over the years to suppress insurgency. He cited that over 400 personnel from Jharkhand Police have laid down their lives during anti-Naxal operations, underlining the high human cost the state has already borne in this prolonged security effort.

Calling for the application of the principle of “co-operative federalism”, Soren urged the Union Home Minister to initiate necessary steps to waive the dues in full. He stressed that such a gesture would reflect the Centre’s commitment to shared governance and equitable partnership, especially in conflict-affected and resource-constrained states like Jharkhand.

The letter seeks not only financial relief but also a larger reconsideration of the Centre-State cost-sharing framework in long-term security deployments. Soren expressed hope that the Union Government would adopt a “positive approach” and extend support to the state’s efforts to overcome economic stress while continuing its campaign against extremism.