INDIA bloc announces Sept 29 Odisha Assembly gherao over mining law

The INDIA bloc in Odisha on Tuesday announced a statewide resistance movement against what it described as the BJP government's 'blueprint for mining loot' and the alleged systematic transfer of the State's natural resources into corporate hands. At a joint state-level mass convention at Gandhi Marg here, the alliance announced a statewide campaign and mass mobilisation against the BJP government's mining policies. Awareness programmes and mass conventions will be organised across Odisha, culminating in a State Assembly Gherao on September 29, leaders said. Advertisement The convention demanded repeal of the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2026, protection of Odisha's constitutional and fiscal rights over mineral resources, and safeguarding of the land, forest and livelihood rights of Adivasis. Advertisement The Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, All India Forward Bloc, NCP, Samajwadi Party and RJD participated in the programme. The leaders alleged that the amended mining law undermines the constitutional and fiscal rights of States and creates greater scope for corporate exploitation of mineral resources. They particularly opposed Section 9D, alleging that linking States' taxation and revenue-raising powers over minerals with Central approval undermines fiscal autonomy. Recalling the Supreme Court's 2024 judgment recognising States' rights over mineral resources and their power to levy taxes on mineral-bearing lands, the leaders alleged that the amendments dilute these constitutional safeguards. They claimed restrictions on recovering previously uncollected taxes, cess and arrears could deprive mineral-rich States such as Odisha of revenues running into lakhs of crores of rupees. They also opposed provisions allowing expansion of mining leases, composite licence areas and captive mining areas without open auction, alleging that these would favour large corporate entities. The convention further warned that the rights of Gram Sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas under PESA and the Forest Rights Act could be weakened. The leaders said Odisha's vast reserves of iron ore, bauxite and coal have imposed heavy social, environmental and climate-related costs on the State and local communities, while the benefits and profits from mining are increasingly concentrated among large corporate entities. Describing the amended law as 'anti-Odisha, anti-people, anti-federal and unconstitutional', they accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Odisha of facilitating corporate exploitation and alleged that the State's BJP MPs had failed to protect Odisha's interests. The convention warned that implementation of the law could deepen social, economic and environmental distress in the State. Declaring that 'Odisha's mineral resources belong to the people of Odisha,' the INDIA bloc vowed to build a broad-based people's movement against corporate control of Odisha's natural wealth. Panchanan Kanungo presented the keynote document. A presidium headed by Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das conducted the proceedings. The convention also saw the release of Left leader Santosh Das's book, Modi's Blueprint for Mining Loot.