Naveen Patnaik Leads Odisha Protest Against New Mines Law
· India · Indian Express
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led a large protest in Bhubaneswar on Mahatma Gandhi Road against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026. Thousands of BJD workers and supporters, mostly dressed in white, gathered from across the state to oppose the law. Patnaik accused the BJP-led state government of remaining silent on the issue despite his two letters seeking a special Assembly session and a resolution against the law. He stated the Act would cause a loss of thousands of crores annually to Odisha and claimed the state’s people are the rightful owners of its mines and land. The protest marked the first large-scale demonstration by the BJD in two years after losing power to the BJP in 2024.
Why it matters
The protest highlights growing opposition in Odisha to central mining legislation that could significantly impact state revenues and resource control. It signals renewed political mobilisation by the BJD against the BJP government in the state.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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