Naveen and Pradhan argue about changes to MMDR and Odisha's mineral authority.

The leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Naveen Patnaik, made an appeal to the Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha on Saturday. He urged them to take a stand against the recent amendments made to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act). These changes would limit the state's authority to impose taxes on mineral rights and land containing minerals.

As the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Patnaik called upon the BJP MPs to remember the people who elected them to represent their interests in Parliament. He asked them to listen to their conscience and think about the future generations of Odisha. In a letter addressed to the MPs, he requested them to challenge and reverse the amendments made to the MMDR Act, which take away the state government's powers.

However, his appeal was met with a response from Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan. He defended the BJP MPs' decision to vote in favor of the MMDR Amendment Bill, 2026, stating that it was in the best interest of the state and its people, especially the youth. Pradhan accused Patnaik of misleading the public by withholding facts and creating baseless fears.

In his letter, Patnaik mentioned the passing of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha on August 13, with the support of Odisha's BJP MPs. He referred to it as a "black day" for the state. Patnaik emphasized the role of MPs as the voice of Odisha in Parliament and reminded them of their responsibility to protect the interests of the people who elected them.

Patnaik expressed his concern over the lack of discussion and deliberation on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, which was passed in less than ten minutes. He stated that this legislation had far-reaching implications and was not an ordinary piece of legislation. Previously, Patnaik had written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the amendments.

Patnaik highlighted the financial impact of the changes, but more importantly, he raised concerns about the loss of the state's control over its minerals and mineral-bearing land. He described the MMDR Amendment Bill as an injustice to the children and youth of Odisha, whose future is linked to the resources and opportunities of the state. Patnaik also highlighted the hardships faced by the people living near mining areas, such as pollution, displacement, and environmental degradation.

He urged the MPs to think beyond their political affiliations and stand up for the state and its people. Patnaik ended his letter by reminding the MPs that history would judge them not by the party they supported but by whether they stood up for Odisha when it mattered the most. In response, Pradhan took to social media to question Patnaik's objections to the legislation.

He stated that the MMDR Amendment Bill was a historic decision of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Pradhan, this new law would ensure that 90% of the mining revenue goes directly to the state treasury, promoting economic growth, infrastructure development, and safeguarding state revenue. Pradhan also claimed that under the Modi government's clean e-auction policy, mining revenue in Odisha had increased from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore.

He added that more than Rs 37,000 crore had been received since 2015 for the development of mining-affected areas in the state through the District Mineral Foundation. He defended the BJP MPs' decision to support the Bill in Parliament, stating that it was in the interest of the state, industrial growth, and employment opportunities for the youth. Pradhan called upon the opposition leaders to rise above partisan politics and support the legislation.

The leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Rama Chandra Kadam, stated that his party was fully against the new mining law and was planning to launch an economic blockade in mineral-bearing districts, demanding the withdrawal of the MMDR amendments. Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 10 Rajya Sabha members. The BJP holds 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the Congress has one.

In the Rajya Sabha, the BJP and BJD have five members each. This highlights the significance of the Odisha MPs' role in protecting the interests of the state and its people.