Patnaik Challenges Legislative Silence on MMDR Act
Bhubaneswar — Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led a demonstration in front of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday, September 28, 2026, to protest the implementation of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2026.
Patnaik appealed to his party members and other political parties not to allow the act to be implemented in Odisha. During the demonstration, he criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at both the Centre and State levels for what he described as indifference to the financial implications of the legislation on the state.
Patnaik stated that the MMDR Amendment Bill concerns state rights and noted it was passed in Parliament without discussion. He questioned why 20 BJP MPs remained silent during the passage of the bill, highlighting the lack of debate surrounding the central legislation's impact on state autonomy.
The former chief minister also criticized the current Odisha Government for remaining silent on the issue. Patnaik alleged that the government failed to respond to his requests for a special Assembly session or a resolution opposing the Act, leaving the state's legislative body without a formal stance against the new rules.
Economic Impact and Revenue Disputes
Patnaik claimed that due to the Act, Odisha will suffer losses amounting to thousands of crores of rupees every year. He urged all political parties to join the struggle and resolve not to allow the MMDR Amendment Act to be implemented in Odisha, framing the issue as a critical economic threat.
Former IAS officer Sujata Rout, recently inducted into the BJD, provided context on the potential economic impact during the event. She stated that revenue from the mineral sector could have funded irrigation, education, farmer welfare, and infrastructure projects, potentially progressing Odisha by 10 years.
Rout asserted that mining revenue increased from ₹5000 crore to ₹50,000 crore not because of the BJP government, but due to Naveen Patnaik’s strong leadership in opening the mining sector to auction. This claim directly counters narratives attributing recent fiscal gains in the mineral sector to central government policies.
Escalation of Opposition Strategy
BJD leaders announced plans to expand opposition to the district level and stop the transportation of minerals from mines. This escalation follows Patnaik's call for a united front against the central legislation, signaling a shift from political rhetoric to direct action.
Leaders from the INDIA Block called for another massive demonstration in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, signaling continued coordinated opposition to the MMDR Amendment Act. The upcoming rally aims to consolidate the growing discontent among various political factions regarding the perceived erosion of state rights.