Bhubaneswar, Sept. 20 -- Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Sunday wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to call a special session of the state Assembly and pass a unanimous resolution seeking repeal of the recently passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment.

In his letter, Patnaik said the amendment effectively takes away Odisha's constitutional right to levy taxes on its mineral wealth and mineral-bearing lands, and alleged that the move could cause significant financial losses to the state.

"This is in continuation of my earlier letter regarding the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) amendment passed in the Parliament recently," Patnaik sa...