Bhubaneswar, August 19: BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday hit out at the Centre over the amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and said it would severely affect the financial interests of Odisha and weaken the State's rights over its mineral resources.

In a video message, he said that he had written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking an all-party meeting and a special session of the Odisha Assembly to discuss the implications of the amendment.

"Mining revenue played a crucial role in Odisha's development but today State’s economy is in danger due to the amendments in Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. So, I urge all political parties to unite in the interest of the State. No one is bigger than the interest of Odisha and the people of Odisha. Not for the party, but for the interest of the soil, we have to stand united today," said Patnaik, who also happens to be the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly.

Patnaik said, “When we came to power in 2000, the State’s financial position was in precarious condition. The State was then dependent on overdrafts but when we demitted office in 2024, we left behind a revenue surplus of Rs 50,000 crore, made possible by strong fiscal management.”

He also targeted 20 BJP Lok Sabha MPs from Odisha, accusing them of failing to raise their voice in defence of the State's interests.

“Only BJD MPs had strongly opposed the amendment in the Rajya Sabha,” said Patnaik.