BJD and Congress Demand Withdrawal of MMDR Amendment, Threaten Statewide Strikes

Senior BJD leader Arun Sahu told reporters that the protest outside the Odisha Mining Corporation headquarters marks the beginning of an economic blockade against the MMDR Amendment Act.

Sahu warned that the party has issued an ultimatum to both the state and central governments to repeal the legislation. If the demand is not met, the BJD will intensify its movement, escalating protests across the state and imposing a comprehensive economic shutdown.

The opposition alleges that the amendment will severely curtail Odisha’s entitlement to mineral revenues, denying the state a fair share of its natural resources. They claim the law could result in a loss of hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees.

Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati echoed these concerns, stating that the amendment could cost Odisha an additional loss of over 1,100,000 crore rupees, beyond the annual 1,000 crore impact already being felt. She accused the central government, led by the BJP, of betraying the voters who helped it win the 2024 elections.