Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Monday said the party’s protest against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act would continue until the legislation is withdrawn.
Patnaik made the statement while addressing a massive BJD protest at Lower PMG here. The demonstration was organised against the MMDR Amendment Act, with party leaders and workers marching towards the Odisha Assembly.
Addressing the gathering, Patnaik said the protest is in the interest of Odisha and its people. He said the party is fighting for the future of the younger generation.
Patnaik said that the MMDR Amendment Act is not an ordinary piece of legislation as it is directly linked to the rights of the state over its mineral resources. He said the people of Odisha are the rightful owners of the state’s mines and minerals.
“It is unfortunate that such an important Bill was passed without adequate discussion,” Patnaik said, questioning the role of the BJP MPs from Odisha and the state government over the legislation.
The BJD chief also said he had written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking a special discussion on the issue in the Assembly. He said that he had also requested the government to bring a resolution opposing the legislation, but received no response.
According to Patnaik, Odisha will suffer losses running into thousands of crores of rupees every year because of the amended law. The BJD had previously alleged that the amendments weaken the powers of states over mines and mineral-bearing land and could adversely affect Odisha’s revenue.
“Party can never be bigger than motherland,” Patnaik said, urging political parties across the state to join the movement.
He said the BJD will continue its fight for Odisha’s rights and urged people to remain united on the issue.
The BJD had earlier announced that the September 28 protest would mark the beginning of a wider statewide agitation against the issue.
Meanwhile, Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs created uproar in the Odisha Assembly today over the MMDR Amendment Act, demanding its withdrawal.
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