Odisha opposition demands withdrawal of MMDR Amendment Act

The INDIA bloc opposition alliance has demanded the withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, claiming it threatens the fiscal rights of mineral-rich states like Odisha.

During a convention in Bhubaneswar, opposition leaders argued the Act is “anti-Odisha” and “unconstitutional.” They alleged the legislation restricts states from levying additional taxes on mineral rights and prevents the recovery of previously uncollected taxes and arrears. Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja stated that the amendment could cause Odisha to lose approximately Rs 20,000 crore annually, noting that the state earned roughly Rs 46,000 crore in mining revenue last year.

The alliance, which includes the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and other parties, accused the BJP-led government of undermining state autonomy to benefit corporate entities. The group announced plans to intensify protests, including an ‘assembly gherao’ scheduled for September 29, and is considering an economic blockade to protect the state’s mineral, land, and forest resources.