Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition and president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), on Wednesday, 19 August launched a sharp attack on the recently passed amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act), warning that it poses a direct threat to Odisha's fiscal sovereignty and mineral wealth. In a video message addressed to the people of the state, Patnaik called for a united front to reclaim what he described as rights stripped away by the Centre.

Mining Revenue at the Heart of Odisha's Growth

Patnaik traced the significance of mining taxation to the state's economic transformation under 24 years of BJD-led governance. He recalled that when the party came to power in 2000, Odisha's finances were so strained that the government relied on overdrafts. By 2024, he said, the BJD administration had built a revenue surplus of ₹50,000 crore, crediting disciplined fiscal management and robust mining revenues for enabling infrastructure expansion, poverty reduction, and large-scale welfare programmes.

'Mining tax played a major role in this rapid development. But today, Odisha's economy is in danger,' Patnaik alleged in his video address.

What the MMDR Amendment Does, and Why Patnaik Objects

The MMDR Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament, with Patnaik alleging it went through without adequate debate — and that only BJD MPs raised objections in the Rajya Sabha. He contended that the legislation effectively transfers control over mineral resources away from the state, depriving Odisha of the authority to levy taxes on its own mines.

Odisha holds the country's highest reserves of chromite, bauxite, iron ore, coal, and manganese — making the revenue implications of the amendment particularly acute for the state. Patnaik alleged the amended law would cost Odisha thousands of crores of rupees annually, funds that would otherwise have financed schools, hospitals, and welfare schemes for farmers and the poor.

'Our people will bear the dust and pollution, while the Delhi establishment will prosper from our resources. We will not allow this to happen,' he said.

Demand for All-Party Meeting and Special Assembly Session

Patnaik said he has already written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, demanding an all-party meeting and a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to deliberate on the amendment's implications. He criticised the state's 20 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs for remaining silent on the issue, arguing that Odisha's interests should transcend party lines.

'No one is bigger than the interests of Odisha and its people. Today, we have to come together for the interests of our soil and our state,' he said.

Opposition Closing Ranks

The BJD is not alone in its opposition. The Indian National Congress (Congress) and other Opposition parties in Odisha have also threatened to escalate protests and are demanding the Centre withdraw the amendment entirely. The convergence of opposition forces signals that the MMDR dispute could become a sustained political flashpoint in the state.

What Comes Next

Patnaik vowed to continue the fight 'till my last breath,' framing the issue as one of generational consequence. With Odisha's budget heavily reliant on mineral revenues and the state sitting atop some of India's richest mineral belts, the outcome of this legislative and political battle will have long-term implications for state finances and resource governance. The demand for a special Assembly session, if accepted, could force a formal legislative response from the ruling BJP government in Bhubaneswar.