Bhubaneswar, Oct 2: BJD president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the recently amended mining law, alleging that the legislation protects the interests of mine owners at the expense of Odisha’s rights and financial interests.
Patnaik made the remarks while launching the Biju Janata Dal’s annual ‘Jan Sampark Pada Yatra’ on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
He alleged that the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) law undermines Odisha’s constitutional rights over mineral-bearing land and curtails the state’s authority to levy cess on mining activities.
According to Patnaik, Odisha could potentially lose around ₹1 lakh crore if the amended mining law is implemented in the state.
The amended MMDR legislation provides for greater central control over the regulation of mineral-bearing lands containing mineral deposits, subject to parameters prescribed under the law.
Patnaik also questioned the role of Odisha’s BJP MPs during the passage of the legislation in Parliament.
“The 20 BJP MPs from Odisha remained silent when the Bill was passed in Parliament. On the other hand, they are ready to fight for the benefit of mine owners,” he alleged.
The former chief minister claimed that while Odisha’s mineral-resource rights were being affected, the state government had failed to adequately oppose the move.
Calling upon BJD workers to take the issue to the grassroots, Patnaik asked party leaders and workers participating in the month-long Pada Yatra to reach villages and households across the state and highlight what he described as the failures of the BJP government.
Patnaik raises issues of governance
Patnaik also criticised the state government over a range of governance-related issues, including school textbooks, revenue collection and utilisation of funds allocated for welfare programmes.
“It is best not to even mention the issue of school textbooks; there are hundreds of errors, yet the government refuses to take responsibility,” he said.
He further alleged that revenue collection in Odisha was declining while funds earmarked for welfare programmes were not being fully utilised. At the same time, he claimed, the state's debt burden was increasing.
BJD to take mining issue to villages
BJD leader Sujata Rout said the party's month-long Pada Yatra would serve as a major public-outreach campaign, with party leaders visiting villages and households across Odisha.
“Today is Gandhi Jayanti. Biju Janata Dal, under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, has started its Pada Jatra programme. Our Pada Jatra will last for one month, and it is a huge public outreach programme that we do every year,” Rout said.
She said the issues facing Odisha this year were different from those raised during previous campaigns, particularly because of what the party considers to be a challenge to the state's constitutional rights.
Rout alleged that the recent MMDR Amendment Act had adversely affected Odisha's interests and criticised the state's BJP MPs and the BJP government for supporting the legislation.
“This is the message that the Biju Janata Dal wants to take to every house in Odisha,” she said, urging people across the state, particularly young people and members of Generation Z, to participate in the debate over the legislation.
