Bhubaneswar: Upping the ante against the amended MMDR Act which ‘bars states’ from imposing tax on mineral-bearing land, BJD on Monday took the fight from the assembly to the streets, with party chief Naveen Patnaik leading a massive rally and accusing BJP of compromising Odisha’s interests. BJP countered, blaming the regional party for trying to mislead people.Addressing party workers and supporters at the rally, Naveen said the protest was aimed at safeguarding the interests of Odisha and the rights of its 4.5 crore people. He alleged that the MMDR Amendment Act was directly linked to the state’s rights over its mineral resources and accused both Centre and state govt of failing to defend Odisha’s interests.“The people of Odisha are the owners of Odisha’s mines and land. Yet such an important Bill was passed in Parliament without discussion. Our 20 BJP MPs remained silent, and the state govt also chose silence,” said Naveen, urging BJD and Congress legislators to join hands for a united struggle to protect the state’s mineral resources.The BJD president said he had written twice to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, first seeking a special session of the assembly and later urging govt to pass a resolution opposing the amended law, but received no response. He claimed the legislation would result in Odisha losing thousands of crores of rupees annually.“Why is the govt silent on Odisha’s interests? No party can ever be bigger than this soil. Political power may be temporary, but betrayal of the state’s interests will never be forgotten,” the former chief minister said, warning that the younger generation would hold those responsible accountable. “I will fight for Odisha’s rights till my last breath,” Naveen asserted.Dismissing BJD’s allegations, BJP MP Sambit Patra said the opposition was spreading misinformation and politicising the issue. He said the amended law does not strip states of their power to tax mineral-bearing land, but only lays down a framework for such levies. Rejecting claims that Odisha could lose Rs 1 lakh crore in mining-related revenues, Patra said the estimated retrospective tax liability was closer to Rs 62,000 crore.Calling BJD’s agitation “habitual opposition”, state BJP president Manmohan Samal said the party has a history of resisting every major reform. “The BJD had opposed GST, claiming Odisha would suffer losses. But the state eventually gained, far exceeding its projections. Similarly, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced mining sector reforms in 2014, the BJD warned of heavy losses. Those fears proved unfounded,” Samal said, asserting that Odisha would eventually benefit from the amended MMDR Act as well.Calling for a united movement beyond political affiliations, Naveen, meanwhile, urged all parties and sections of society to join the fight against the implementation of the amended law in Odisha. “We will fight and bring back our rights,” he asserted.Sujata Rout, former IAS officer-turned-BJD member, emerged as one of the party’s most vocal critics of Centre, alleging that the amended law undermines Odisha’s financial interests. She said the Naveen govt had enacted a law to levy tax on mineral-bearing land and, after years of litigation, secured a favourable verdict from Supreme Court. “The state stood to gain thousands of crores of rupees annually and make a generational leap in development. But BJP MPs ensured that the benefit was taken away and the money reverted to the Centre,” Rout alleged.Protests were also witnessed inside the assembly, where BJD and Congress MLAs raised slogans and demanded that the state govt oppose the amended Act. The opposition alleged that the changes would weaken Odisha’s control over its mineral resources and adversely impact the state’s revenue.