MMDR Amendment Act Issue: BJD to Hold Massive Protest Meeting in Front of Assembly on 28th September
- BJD President Naveen Patnaik to Join
- BJD to Launch Statewide Agitation Demanding Withdrawal of this Black Law
- Black Law will Have an Adverse Impact on the Lives and Livelihoods of Tribal People
Bhubaneswar, 24/09/2026:Following the passage of the MMDR Amendment Act by the Central Government, the Biju Janata Dal, which has been strongly opposing the legislation, has decided to take to the streets demanding the withdrawal of this black law. On 28 September, the Biju Janata Dal will organise a massive mass protest meeting at Lower PMG, which will be attended by the party President and former Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, the party informed.
At a press conference organised at SankhaBhawan on Thursday, Senior Vice-President of the party Shri Debi Prasad Mishra, Vice-President Shri Pratap Jena, MLA Dr. Arun Kumar Sahu, former Minister and PAC Member Shri Sudam Marandi, and Senior General Secretary Shri PritiRanjanGhadai termed the MMDR Amendment Act a black law and informed that the BJD would launch a statewide agitation demanding its withdrawal.
Shri Debi Prasad Mishra said that through the MMDR Amendment Act, the Central Government has taken away the rights of the States over mines and mineral-bearing lands, which is an attack on the federal structure of the country. Since Odisha possesses 44 per cent of the total mineral resources available in the country, the State will suffer the maximum loss due to this amended law. It is unfortunate that the State BJP leaders are making arguments that Odisha will benefit rather than suffer losses. Therefore, demanding its withdrawal, the BJD will organise a massive protest meeting at Lower PMG on 28th September, in which BJD President Shri Naveen Patnaik will participate.
Shri Pratap Jena said that the MMDR Amendment Act is a black law and has dealt a severe blow to the interests of the State. In 2004, Shri Naveen Patnaik had brought a law under which the State Government could impose taxes and levies on mines and mineral-bearing lands. Some mining companies challenged this law in the courts, following which the matter remained pending before the Supreme Court for a long period. On 25 July 2024, a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that State Governments could impose taxes and levies on mines and minerals. This created an opportunity for Odisha to receive ₹1 lakh crore towards arrears and ₹12,000 crore annually as revenue from mining. However, due to the MMDR Amendment Act brought by the Central Government, this opportunity has now been lost.
Dr. Arun Kumar Sahu said that while the MMDR Amendment Act is directly causing huge losses to Odisha, the 20 BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha and 5 BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha from Odisha extended silent support to it. On the other hand, the BJP Government in Odisha also surrendered before the Central Government. The BJD has strongly opposed this issue inside the Legislative Assembly. A statewide agitation and economic blockade will be undertaken against this.
Shri Sudam Marandi said that most of the mining areas where the country’s mineral resources are concentrated are predominantly inhabited by tribal people. Water, forests and land are intrinsically linked with tribal culture. The manner in which the Central Government unilaterally amended this law will certainly have an adverse impact on the way of life of tribal people. Therefore, the BJD will launch a statewide agitation demanding withdrawal of this law.
Shri PritiRanjanGhadai said that since the MMDR Amendment Act is against the interests of the State, the BJD has been opposing it from the very beginning. At the call of BJD President Shri Naveen Patnaik, the leaders and countless workers of the Biju Janata Dal are determined to launch an agitation demanding withdrawal of this black law. Therefore, the BJD appeals to the people of Odisha to extend their support and cooperation to the agitation scheduled to be held on 28 September.
