OPCC Announces Statewide Bandh Over MMDR Act in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has announced a statewide bandh and a seven‑day economic blockade after Dussehra, intensifying protests against the recently enacted Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
At a high‑level executive committee meeting, the party adopted seven resolutions under the slogan “Not me, but us.”
OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das accused both the ruling BJP and the former BJD government of exploiting Odisha’s mineral wealth, demanding accountability and transparency in resource management.
The resolutions call for statutory safeguards in the MMDR Act, transparent mineral governance, and the resignation of Minister Nityananda Ganda over alleged mismanagement.
The Congress leadership has vowed to mobilise mass support, with specific dates for the bandh and blockade to be announced soon.
The BJP has yet to respond to the OPCC’s demands, setting the stage for a major political confrontation in Odisha.
