Aparajita Sarangi Defends MMDR Amendment Amid BJD Protests in Odisha

The Biju Janata Dal recently held a protest march in Bhubaneswar, demanding the withdrawal of the 2026 amendment. Critics, including BJD leader Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, argue the law curtails the state’s constitutional authority to tax mineral wealth. Karthikeyan specifically accused Odisha’s BJP parliamentarians of doing an injustice to the state by failing to block the bill, citing a long-standing legal struggle that culminated in a favorable Supreme Court ruling for Odisha’s taxing rights.

Sarangi countered these allegations by citing an "absence of patience" among those opposing the act. She emphasized that the central government remains committed to the welfare of the region, insisting that the legislation was crafted with Odisha’s economic stability in mind. According to the BJP representative, the current political backlash ignores the broader context of the reform, urging parties to engage with the actual provisions rather than relying on reactive protests.