Bhubaneswar : The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly reacted to the statement made by Kandhamal MP Shri Sukanta Panigrahi that BJP MPs do not need the advice of BJD President and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Shri Naveen Patnaik, following Naveen Patnaik’s letter to the BJP MPs of Odisha regarding the MMDR Amendment Act. The BJD has stated that while the MMDR Amendment Act has directly benefited mining owners rather than the States, on what basis does MP Shri Sukanta Panigrahi claim that it will benefit the State? The BJD said that after the BJP MPs of Odisha were exposed, they are making such statements with the intention of misleading the people of Odisha. In a press statement issued by the Biju Janata Dal, party spokesperson and Media Coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty said that, on the issue of the MMDR Amendment Act, the BJP MPs have given priority not to the soil but to their party. After the Supreme Court, in its order dated 25 July 2024, ruled that State Governments can impose taxes and levies on mining, it had become clear that Odisha would receive more than ₹1 lakh crore in arrears through mining taxes and approximately ₹12,000 crore in additional revenue every year. However, after the MMDR Amendment Act was passed, the opportunity created by the Supreme Court judgment to increase Odisha’s revenue was lost. When the Act was passed, the BJP MPs from Odisha remained silent spectators. After BJD President Naveen Patnaik raised his voice against this injustice and wrote to the BJP MPs, BJP MP Shri Sukanta Panigrahi stated that there was no need for Naveen’s advice. In reality, Naveen Patnaik’s letter has exposed the BJP MPs. Shamelessly displaying arrogance, they are saying that they do not need Naveen’s advice. Dr. Mohanty said that it is now time for the BJP MPs, who have put the State behind and their party ahead, to hide their faces. The BJP had given the slogan of “Double Engine Government, Double Development”, and influenced by this slogan, the people of Odisha elected 20 BJP MPs. However, after the BJP came to power, instead of increasing, the Central grants to Odisha have decreased. The people of Odisha have not seen BJP MPs raising their voices in Parliament for the interests of Odisha. When the MMDR Amendment Bill was being passed, not a single BJP MP had spoken up. Now, by claiming that Odisha will not suffer any loss, they are attempting to mislead the people of the State. After the passage of this Act, the direct benefit has gone not to the States but to the mining owners. However, BJP MPs are claiming that Odisha will benefit, which is merely intended to mislead and confuse the people of the State.
Naveen’s letter has exposed the BJP MPs: BJD
