Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik on Monday joined a massive party protest outside the Odisha Assembly, demanding withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
Addressing the gathering, Patnaik said the amended legislation was directly linked to the rights of Odisha and asserted that the state’s mineral resources and land were matters of concern for its people.
“This is not an ordinary Bill. It is linked to the rights of the state,” Patnaik said, while calling for a united political response to the legislation.
Patnaik alleged that the amendment was passed in Parliament without adequate discussion and questioned the silence of the 20 BJP MPs from Odisha.
In a detailed post on X, he also criticised the Odisha government over its response to the legislation.
The BJD president said he had written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, seeking a special session of the Assembly and later requesting a resolution opposing the MMDR Amendment Act. According to Patnaik, he received no response to either request.
Patnaik further claimed that Odisha could suffer losses of thousands of crores of rupees every year because of the amended law. He called on political parties across the state to join the BJD’s campaign against its implementation in Odisha.
The former chief minister said the agitation was being carried out in the interest of Odisha and its 4.5 crore people, particularly the younger generation. He said the BJD would continue its campaign until the state’s rights were restored.
The protest at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar forms part of the BJD’s opposition to the MMDR Amendment Act, with the party demanding its withdrawal.
The Union government, however, has stated that the 2026 amendment is intended to facilitate mineral exploration and development, particularly of critical and strategic minerals, while providing greater flexibility to mining lease holders.
The Ministry of Mines has also said the amendment does not diminish states’ rights over land and minerals or their power to levy mineral taxes.
The BJD has maintained that the legislation affects Odisha’s rights and financial interests and has said it will continue its agitation against the amendment.
