MMDR Amendment Act row: INDIA bloc announces Assembly gherao on Sept 29

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 (IANS) Mounting their protest against the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act-2026, (MMDR Act-2026), the INDIA bloc leaders in the state has announced a massive gherao of the Odisha Assembly on September 29.

The decision was finalised during a joint meeting of the Opposition alliance held at Congress Bhavan here on Wednesday.

The coalition aims to intensify its statewide agitation, demanding the immediate repeal of the amended act, which they termed “anti-Odisha”.

The INDIA Bloc leaders at the meeting strongly opposed the legislation, alleging that it attempts to bring Odisha’s mineral resources under centralised control and corporate interests.

The alliance also claimed that the Act would pose a serious threat to Odisha’s economic interests, the state’s rights, the rights of people living in mining areas, and the interests of tribal communities.

Earlier, the district-level joint meetings of the bloc on August 23, the mass awareness campaign on August 24, and the statewide protest day on August 25 were successfully observed.

To mobilise grassroots support ahead of the Assembly gherao, the INDIA bloc has outlined a series of public gatherings across major mining districts.

According to the details shared by the INDIA bloc, a state-level convention will first be held in Bhubaneswar on September 8.

Following this, mass public gatherings will be organised in Kendujhar on September 13, Sundaragada on September 17, Anugola on September 19, and Rayagada on September 21.

The agitation will culminate in a massive public gathering and the gherao of the Odisha Assembly in the state capital on September 29.

“Under no circumstances will the state’s mineral resources and rights be handed over for corporate looting by the BJP government. The people’s right over Odisha’s mineral resources and the revenue generated from them must be utilised for the development and public welfare of the state,” INDIA bloc asserted.

The INDIA bloc issued a joint appeal to labour and transport unions, farmers, tribal communities, youth, and women to join the agitation and transform it into a broad mass movement, demanding to repeal the anti-Odisha MMDR Amendment Act-2026 and protect Odisha’s mineral resources and state rights.

–IANS

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