Former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has hit back at Odisha Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik over concerns surrounding the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, saying that the BJP MPs had voted in favour of the Bill in the larger interest of the state and its people, particularly the youth.
Hours after receiving Patnaik’s letter to BJD MPs from Odisha, urging them to challenge the newly passed MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026, and demand its withdrawal, Pradhan accused the former of misleading people by “concealing” facts and spreading “unfounded fear”.
“I request you to see beyond your partisan prism and support the historic MMDR legislation that guarantees the state’s industrial and economic growth while securing long-term employment for our youth,” Pradhan said.
Pradhan said political discourse was an important part of democracy but alleged that “misleading the people of Odisha by concealing facts and spreading unfounded fear” was unacceptable.
“As the voice of Odisha in Parliament, our primary responsibility is to safeguard the long-term economic and structural interests of our state alongside national development,” Pradhan said in the letter.
Pradhan, in a post shared from his X handle, said he was surprised by Patnaik’s letter and questioned whether the people of Odisha were being misled over the legislation.
“After reading the letter written by the leader of the opposition party of Odisha @Naveen_Odisha regarding the MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026, I am surprised, should we hide the truth and create false fear and mislead the people of Odisha? Why are you hesitating to reveal the truth?” he said in the post.
Defending the legislation, Pradhan described the MMDR Amendment Bill as a “historic decision” of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Odisha’s mining revenue ‘fully protected’
Responding to concerns over Odisha’s share of mining revenues, Pradhan said the state would continue to receive a substantial share of proceeds under the amended legislation.
“The MMDR Amendment Bill is a historic decision of the government of Prime Minister @narendramodi. With the new law, 90% of the mining revenue will go directly to the state treasury, which will promote economic growth, infrastructure development and safeguard state revenue and protect the citizens from inflation”, he said in the post.
Pradhan further claimed that mining revenue in Odisha has increased from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore under the Modi government because of its clean e-auction policy.
“Due to the clean e-auction policy of the Modi government, the mining revenue of the state has increased from 5,000 crore to 50,000 crore,” he said.
Pradhan also highlighted that more than Rs 37,000 crore had been received since 2015 for the development of mining-affected areas in the state through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF).
“Since 2015 till date, more than 37,000 crore has been received for the development of the mining areas of Odisha through DMF,” Pradhan said.
He said Odisha MPs had supported the Bill in Parliament in the interests of the state, industrial growth and employment security for the youth.
MMDR ସଂଶୋଧନ ବିଲ୍, ୨୦୨୬ କୁ ନେଇ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିରୋଧୀ ଦଳ ନେତା @Naveen_Odisha ଲେଖିଥିବା ଚିଠିପଢ଼ିବା ପରେ ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଲାଗୁଛି, ସତ୍ୟକୁ ଲୁଚାଇ ମିଛରେ ଭୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରି ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ବିଭ୍ରାନ୍ତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍ କି ? ସତ୍ୟ କଥା ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆପଣଙ୍କର ସଙ୍କୋଚ କାହିଁକି?
MMDR ସଂଶୋଧନ ଆଇନ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ… pic.twitter.com/zyZHjsvt4b
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 29, 2026
Pradhan urged opposition leaders to rise above political differences and back the legislation. “Opposition leaders must rise above partisanship and support this historic law,” he said.
The Lok Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, on August 12, aiming to accelerate mineral exploration and resource development, particularly of critical and strategic minerals, while providing greater flexibility to mining lease holders.
The MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026, proposes amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, allowing a mining lease holder to apply to the state government for inclusion of other minerals in an existing lease.
