In a powerful video message released to the people of Odisha, Leader of the Opposition and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik has called for a united, non-partisan struggle against the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, warning that it strikes at the heart of the state’s fiscal autonomy and control over its vast mineral wealth.
MMDR Act amendment ବିରୋଧ ରେ ମିଳିତ ସଂଗ୍ରାମ ପାଇଁ ବିରୋଧୀ ଦଳ ନେତା ଶ୍ରୀ ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ଭିଡ଼ିଓ ବାର୍ତ୍ତା…
Hon’ble LOP and BJD President Shri Naveen Patnaik speech on MMDR Amendment Bill 2026.@bjd_odisha | @Naveen_Odisha pic.twitter.com/TtSGgHcyuA
— ଡ଼ଃ ସସ୍ମିତ ପାତ୍ର I Dr. Sasmit Patra (@sasmitpatra) August 19, 2026
Patnaik recalled the dramatic turnaround of Odisha’s economy under his 24-year rule. When his government took charge in 2000, the state was dependent on overdrafts and mired in financial distress. By the time power changed hands in 2024, Odisha had left behind a revenue surplus of Rs 50,000 crore, driven by strong fiscal management, reduced poverty, and rapid infrastructure growth.
Mining taxes, he emphasised, played the starring role in this transformation.“Today, Odisha’s economy is in danger,” he declared. Parliament has passed the MMDR amendment without adequate debate, he charged, with only BJD MPs offering firm opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
The new law, according to Patnaik, effectively ends the state’s rights over its mineral-bearing lands and prevents Odisha from collecting taxes on its own resources — chromite, bauxite, iron ore, coal and manganese reserves that rank among India’s highest.
“Our people will bear the dust and smoke, while Delhi grows rich on our wealth. We will not allow this,” he asserted. He has already written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging an all-party meeting and a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to forge a united response.
Patnaik reminded viewers that for 24 years, successive central governments — of different political hues — never dared to dilute Odisha’s rights. Yet within two years of the BJP’s rise to power in the state, everything has changed. Odisha’s 20 BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha, he said, “failed miserably” in protecting the state’s interests. Only the BJD stood firm.
The former chief minister painted a stark picture of the consequences: thousands of crores lost every year that could have built schools, colleges, hospitals, roads, bridges, power projects and welfare schemes for farmers and the poor. “What answer will we give our children and Gen Z?” he asked. “This is a conspiracy to weaken Odisha — and the people of this land will never tolerate it.”Ending on a combative note, Patnaik declared: “This land is ours. These mines are ours. I will fight till my last breath to protect Odisha’s rights. I appeal to every Odia to join this battle.”
