BJP lawmakers compromised Odisha’s interest by supporting mining law amendments: BJD
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has accused Odisha's BJP lawmakers of supporting a federal mining amendment that allegedly deprives the state of ₹1 lakh crore in tax arrears. The BJD claims this legislation undermines state rights over mineral-bearing lands despite a recent Supreme Court ruling favoring state taxation powers.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant federal-state conflict over mineral revenue rights and constitutional authority in India's resource-rich regions.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) levelled a serious allegation against Odisha’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, claiming that they supported the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, despite being aware that the legislation could deprive the State of nearly ₹1 lakh crore in arrears.
Addressing a press conference, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Santrupt Misra said the Odisha Government itself had, before the Supreme Court, maintained that the amount constituted a legitimate entitlement of the State.
“On behalf of the Odisha Government, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, had stated that the ₹1 lakh crore in arrears was Odisha’s legitimate entitlement and that the State would suffer substantial financial loss if it did not receive the amount,” he alleged.
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