RANCHI, Aug. 3 -- Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi on Sunday alleged the state government of providing political patronage to a rampant illegal sand mining trade operating in open defiance of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) monsoon ban.

In a public statement, Marandi questioned why law enforcement remained a silent spectator to fleets of sand-smuggling trucks plying the roads of Ranchi and neighbouring districts without number plates or valid transit challans.

Drawing a sharp contrast in governance, the opposition leader pointed out the stark asymmetry in law enforcement, asking why ordinary citizens were swiftly tracked and penalised via high-tech traffic cameras for minor bike or car violations while massive commercial veh...