15 hrs ago
Congress urges fearless fight over amended mining law
India’s Parliament passed a new amendment to the mining law earlier this month.
The Congress says the law takes away important rights from Odisha.
It wants opposition parties to protest together and is considering an economic blockade and a state-wide shutdown.
Biju Janata Dal leaders also criticized the BJP-led government.
Congress leaders, however, said the BJD needed to do more than hold press conferences and write letters.
The BJP said both opposition parties were misleading people.
It argued that the law would help Odisha in the long run.
The parties disagree about whether the law harms or benefits the state.
The Congress urged Opposition parties to jointly challenge the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das said the law allegedly limits Odisha’s powers over taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land.
The Congress said it is planning economic blockades and an Odisha bandh after holding demonstrations with INDIA bloc constituents.
Biju Janata Dal leaders accused the BJP-led government of acting against Odisha’s interests but were criticized for limiting protests to statements and letters.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Biranchi Narayan Tripathy said the Congress and BJD were misleading people and that the law would benefit Odisha over time.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party and their Odisha leaders are involved.
- What
- The Congress is campaigning against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, and calling for a joint Opposition fight.
- Where
- The political dispute is centered in Odisha, with Congress leaders speaking in Bhubaneswar.
- When
- Parliament passed the amendment earlier in the month; the Congress issued its call on Monday.
- Why
- The Congress alleges that the amendment restricts States’ powers over taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, while the BJP says it will benefit Odisha in the long run.
Opposition criticism
Government-party defense
Impact on Odisha’s powers
Opposition criticism
The Congress alleges that the amendment restricts States’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, and calls it anti-Odisha.
Government-party defense
The BJP says the opposition parties are misleading people and argues that the Act will benefit Odisha in the long run.
Political response
Opposition criticism
The Congress wants Opposition parties to remove their fear, fight together and seek repeal of the amended law; the BJD has also criticized the government.
Government-party defense
The BJP rejects the opposition’s characterization of the law and supports its expected long-term benefits for Odisha.
Strength of protests
Opposition criticism
Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das said the BJD’s response had so far been limited to press conferences and letters, while Congress-led protests and possible blockades are being organized.
Government-party defense
The BJD leaders presented their own criticism of the government, while the BJP characterized both opposition parties’ claims as misleading.
Key facts
- Legislation
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026
- Parliamentary status
- Parliament passed the amendment earlier this month.
- Congress position
- The party says the law takes away Odisha’s rights over mineral-bearing land and should be repealed.
- Planned action
- The Congress is preparing for economic blockades and an Odisha bandh.
- BJD position
- BJD leaders criticized the BJP-led government for allegedly working against Odisha’s interests.
- BJP position
- The BJP said the Congress and BJD were misleading the public and that the Act would ultimately benefit Odisha.
Quotes
Bhakta Charan Das
President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee
“First of all, the BJD should take this issue seriously. They have so far limited their protests to only addressing press conferences and writing letters. The Congress has organised demonstrations with the constituents of the INDIA bloc and is preparing for economic blockades and Odisha bandh”
thehansindia.com
“fearless” fight against the BJP government will ensure “withdrawal of the amended mining law that has taken away Odisha’s rights over the mineral-bearing land”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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