Jamshedpur: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday attacked Raghubar Das Government for amending the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act. He said these old land laws are directed related to tribal sentiments and that the amendments would have adverse impact on the state.
Addressing a public meeting at Agrico Transport Maidan, Nitish Kumar said the Jharkhand government had tried to erase the very identity of the tribal people by amending the CNT & SPT Acts.
The Bihar CM said he had supported bifurcation of Bihar for the greater benefit of Adivasis but now he felt the very purpose of Jharkhand�s formation had not been fulfilled. He said the CNT and SPT Acts were the very soul of the tribal state as the Adivasis rely on Jal (Water), Jungle (forest) and Zameen (Land). He termed the amendments in land laws as a conspiracy to erase the very existence of tribal people in Jharkhand.
�It is really surprising that even after 15 years of its formation, Jharkhand has failed to become a developed state. Its neighbouring state Bihar has achieved milestones in every field and marched ahead on the path of progress,� noted Kumar.
Addressing the meeting organised by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, the Bihar CM said, �I am of the opinion that these land laws are symbols of tribal life and any move to change it may trigger social unrest. I had cautioned the state Government several times but it failed to pay heed.�
Kumar also reiterated his demand to ban liquor in Jharkhand on the lines of Bihar. He said Bihar had become an example of successfully implementing total prohibition in the country. The women folk are equally happy with the Government�s decision.
�I had requested Jharkhand CM to take steps to ban liquor. But the Government lacks will power to take steps in this direction. On the development front, Bihar and Jharkhand need to work together. The liquor ban has yielded positive results in Bihar. Jharkhand too can gain from this positive step,� said Kumar.
The Bihar CM also added that the entire nation had realized the importance of liquor ban. He said that if voted to power in Jharkhand he will ensure that liquor is banned.
JVM chief Babulal Marandi and party�s central secretary Abhay Singh also addressed the gathering. They criticized the state government over the land laws amendment and liquor ban issues.
They also assailed the Raghubar Das government for failure to meet the expectations of the people on the issue of ownership rights for the people residing in the 86 bustees of Jamshedpur.
