The political temperature in Odisha remains soaring over the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 (MMDR).
Following five consecutive days of intense opposition protests inside the state assembly, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a demonstration at Lower PMG, followed by a statewide bandh called by the Congress. Amidst the escalating unrest, BJP MLA Babu Singh has strongly criticised the opposition parties for their protests and bandh call.
Rejecting the opposition’s allegations, MLA Singh asserted that the ruling party was fully prepared for a detailed and transparent discussion on the MMDR Act inside the House. However, he accused the Congress and other opposition members of deliberately stalling proceedings and shutting down the assembly.
“We wanted a thorough discussion on the MMDR, but the Congress intentionally disrupted and shut down the assembly within five days,” Singh stated. The Monsoon Session, originally scheduled to run from September 22 to October 3, was abruptly cut short and adjourned sine die on September 28 due to continuous ruckus and uproar raised by opposition parties demanding the immediate withdrawal of the amendment. This premature adjournment cut short the legislative calendar by four working days.
Opposition parties have fiercely denounced the amendment, labelling it as “anti-Odisha” and “anti-tribal,” while demanding its rollback. They argue that the revised provisions threaten the state’s sovereign rights over its mineral wealth, potentially triggering an annual revenue loss of thousands of crores along with nearly one lakh crore rupees in pending dues.
In response, the ruling party has dismissed these concerns, maintaining that the state’s interests remain fully protected and that the opposition fled from meaningful legislative debate. With the controversy spilling over from the Assembly floor onto the streets, the intense debate surrounding Odisha’s mineral rights, state revenue, and federal dynamics is expected to intensify further in the days ahead.
