Naveen Patnaik Vows to Fight MMDR Amendment Act Until His Last Breath
Odishas opposition leader Naveen Patnaik pledges to oppose the MMDR Amendment Act, rallying support for the states rights.
Bhubaneswar, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : Odisha’s opposition leader, Naveen Patnaik, declared on Monday that he will resist the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, known as the MMDR Amendment Act, until his last breath. Speaking at a large protest rally organized by his party in Lower PMG, Bhubaneswar, Patnaik emphasized that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is fighting to protect the rights of Odisha’s 4.5 crore residents and the future of the new generation.
Patnaik warned the BJP-led state government that the younger generation will not forgive them for remaining silent instead of opposing the MMDR Amendment Act. He questioned, “Why is the government silent when it comes to Odisha’s interests? No party is bigger than this land. Power may be with you today, but it may not be tomorrow. If you betray this land, you will always be condemned. The people of Odisha will not forgive you.”
The BJD president asserted that the true owners of Odisha’s mines and land are the state’s residents. He criticized the ruling BJP and the state government for their silence, stating, “It is unfortunate that such an important bill was passed in Parliament without discussion, and our 20 BJP MPs remained silent. Whose interests are they protecting? The Odisha government has also remained quiet. Who are they afraid of?”
Patnaik referenced letters he had written to Chief Minister Mohan Chandra Majhi, requesting a special assembly session to discuss the MMDR Amendment Act and pass a resolution against it. He targeted Majhi for not responding to his letters and accused the BJP-led government of merely saying “no” and giving speeches without action.
He warned that the MMDR Amendment Act could lead to Odisha losing thousands of crores of rupees annually. Patnaik called on all political parties and the people of Odisha to unite against the law. “I will fight for Odisha’s rights until my last breath. I urge everyone and all political parties to join this fight. Let’s unite for this land and pledge that we will not allow the MMDR Amendment Act to be implemented in Odisha,” he stated.
The BJD organized a massive protest rally in Bhubaneswar on Monday against the MMDR Amendment Act, drawing thousands of party workers from various parts of the state, all demanding the repeal of the controversial legislation.
