BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Janata Dal on Monday staged a massive protest at Lower PMG square here against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 with party president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik asserting that he will fight till his last breath for Odisha's rights.
Addressing the gathering, the leader of the Opposition said the fight is not just of the BJD but of 4.5 crore Odias. He called upon all sections of people, irrespective of party affiliations, to unite for Odisha's interest and for the future of Gen Z.
"No party can ever be bigger than the soil. Chair will be there today, not tomorrow. But if you betray this soil, you will be condemned forever. Gen Z will not forgive you. People of Odisha will never forgive those who betrayed the motherland," he said.
The leader of the Opposition said the MMDR Amendment Bill was not an ordinary Bill. It is linked to the rights of the state. "Odisha's mines, Odisha's land belongs to the people of Odisha. They are the owners," he said.
Stating that such an important Bill was passed in Parliament without discussion, Naveen questioned the silence of 20 BJP MPs from Odisha and the state government. "Due to this Act, Odisha will lose thousands of crores of rupees every year. Why is the Odisha government silent? Why are 20 BJP MPs silent? In whose interest? Out of fear of whom?" he asked.
The former Chief Minister said he had written twice to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi requesting to convene a special session of the Assembly and pass a unanimous resolution opposing the Act. There was no reply. Similarly, letters written to 20 BJP MPs also went unanswered, he said.
Describing the present government as a government of "Nahin Nahin" (a government of denial), Naveen said they are only good at giving big speeches. "This government has no answers. They are only 'vakyabir'," he said.
He said the amended law has taken away Odisha's rights and put the future of Gen Z in danger. "For the interest of Odisha, for the interest of Gen Z, we have to fight. I will fight till my last breath for Odisha's rights," he declared, calling upon party workers to resolve not to allow implementation of the MMDR Amendment Act in Odisha.
Thousands of people from different parts of the state participated in the protest. Senior leaders of the party addressed the gathering and strongly opposed the injustice meted out to Odisha in the MMDR Act and demanded its withdrawal.
They said the amendment will drastically reduce Odisha's revenue from mining sector, which is crucial for funding welfare schemes, education, health and infrastructure.
The BJD has been opposing the amendment contending that it centralises power and takes away state's control over its natural resources.
