Stories
Naveen Patnaik Invokes Gen Z in First Protest Since 2024 Loss, Targets Mining Act
- •Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led his first major street protest since 2024, opposing the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
- •The BJD argues the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, will erode Odisha’s taxation powers over mineral rights, costing the state thousands of crores annually and undermining its rights.
- •Patnaik criticized the central government for passing the legislation without adequate discussion and accused both the Centre and the state government of silence.
- •He explicitly targeted the ruling BJP, stating, ‘If you betray this land, you will face condemnation forever. Gen Z will never forgive you,’ framing the law as a threat to future generations.
- •By invoking Gen Z, Patnaik is making a strategic pivot to connect with younger voters ahead of the 2027 Panchayat elections, framing the mining act as an intergenerational theft of resources.
Key Questions Answered
Naveen Patnaik and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led a large street protest at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar to oppose the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026. They argued that the new legislation erodes Odisha's taxation powers over mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, costing the state thousands of crores of rupees annually.
Naveen Patnaik is strategically invoking "Gen Z" to connect with younger voters ahead of the 2027 Panchayat elections, framing the MMDR Amendment Act as an intergenerational threat that will compromise the resource security and future financial independence of Odisha's youth.
Naveen Patnaik criticized the central government for passing the MMDR Amendment Act in Parliament without adequate discussion and slammed both the Centre and the ruling state government for their silence. He also noted that his letters to the Chief Minister calling for a special assembly session and to Odisha's 20 Lok Sabha MPs went unanswered.
