Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 -- Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said the agitation against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2026 will continue until the legislation is withdrawn. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre and the state for remaining silent on the state's interest.

Addressing a massive BJD demonstration at Lower PMG square, Patnaik said the amended law concerned Odisha's rights over its mineral resources and alleged that the state could lose thousands of crores of rupees every year because of it.

The MMDR Amendment Act passed in Parliament on August 13 provides for restrictions on states' powers to t...