Intensifying its agitation against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, Odisha’s opposition party, the BJD, on Monday announced that it will organise a ‘mass dharna’ in front of the Lok Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on September 9 demanding the complete rollback of the new mining legislation.
The BJD’s announcement came a day after the ruling BJP passed a resolution criticising opposition parties in Odisha for their ongoing agitation against the legislation.
Addressing a press conference in the capital city, BJD’s senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra stated, “Party leaders and workers will stage a dharna outside the Lok Bhavan on September 9 and submit a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the Odisha Governor, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the MMDR Act 2026.”
Mishra noted that the party would also appeal to the Governor to exercise his constitutional powers under Article 174 of the Constitution and convene a special assembly session for an in-depth discussion on the Act, which he claimed was passed hastily in Parliament without proper discussion.
The amended law updates regulatory frameworks for mines and minerals by restricting state governments from imposing additional taxes or cesses on mineral rights.
“Furthermore, under Article 244(1) and the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, the Governor is entrusted with safeguarding the rights and welfare of the state’s tribal communities. His intervention will be sought to protect these communities residing across mining belts,” Mishra added.
He further said that the BJD would be organising various demonstrations across the state to oppose the new mining legislation.
Mishra pointed out that BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik had previously written to the Chief Minister requesting a special legislative session on the matter. Patnaik had also sent letters to all BJP MPs from the state, urging them to speak out against the “injustice meted out to Odisha” by the new legislation.
“However, neither did the Chief Minister respond to the letter nor did the BJP MPs step forward. Therefore, the BJD has resolved to fight this out until the Act is completely withdrawn,” Mishra asserted.
In an official statement, the BJD alleged that the Act works against Odisha’s interests, asserting that “it will result in the state losing nearly Rs 1 lakh crore in outstanding dues and approximately Rs 12,000 crore annually in mining revenue.”
Meanwhile, the INDIA Bloc coalition, comprising the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP, and SP, held a meeting at the Congress Bhawan in Bhubaneswar and announced a state-level convention on the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, scheduled for Tuesday in Bhubaneswar.
“We vehemently oppose the new mining act, as it directly undermines the interests of the state, its people, and particularly tribal populations. At the convention, the INDIA Bloc parties will decide on calling an Odisha Bandh and enforcing an economic blockade in mineral-rich districts,” said CPI(M) state secretary Suresh Panigrahy.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das outlined the upcoming stir, “We will host massive rallies against the Act in Sundargarh on September 18, Rayagada on September 21, Keonjhar on September 24, and Angul on September 26. Additionally, the INDIA Bloc coalition will organize a Vidhan Sabha Gherao program on September 29.”
Meanwhile, the ruling BJP dismissed the opposition’s claims, accusing them of “misleading” the public regarding the amended mining law, which it maintained would ultimately prove “beneficial” for the state.
