Jamshedpur, Aug. 20 : Opposition parties have decided to launch agitation and awareness against state government’s move to amend land tenancy Act.
Former Jamshedpur MP and Congress national spokesperson Ajoy Kumar recently also held a meeting with leaders of almost all major opposition parties in state (JD-U, JVM, RJD, CPM, CPI and JMM) at Nirmal Bhawan in Circuit House Area. He media said that all opposition will come together to foil government’s move to change the land tenancy Acts (CNT and SPT) allegedly for the benefit of industrialists.
“We have united to launch ante. All the senior district level leaders of opposition parties will chalk out strategies of agitation against government move and also expose government’s real motive behind bringing amendment to the age-old Acts through awareness sessions at panchayat and village level from this months,” said Ajoy Kumar.
He went on to add that Congress state president and MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat is holding talks with JMM national president and leader of opposition in the state assembly Hemant Soren in Ranchi soon for a combined move to stall government’s plan of amendment to CNT and SPT Act.
It may be mentioned that the state cabinet has already approved the ordinance for amendments to the CNT and SPT Act on June 28 and has sent it for President’s approval. The move has evoked widespread protest from not only opposition but also allies of the government including Ajsu and several tribal MLAs of ruling BJP.
Enacted in 1908, the CNT Act restricts transfer of land belonging to Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. However, a tribal may transfer his land through sale, exchange, gift or will it to a fellow Scheduled Tribe member and residents of his own police station area.
The SPT Act also protects the land rights of Jharkhand’s Santhal tribe who primarily inhabit six districts of Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Pakur, Sahibganj and Jamtara.
Ajoy Kumar also said that the joint forum would also protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the district.
“The police are not able to arrest the rising crime graph while it is not able to reign in the malpractices committed by near relatives of Raghubar Das be it in usurping lands or shops of others in the city,” said Kumar.
The stringent CNT and SPT laws make it difficult for the government to acquire land in tribal dominated areas which are usually rich in mineral resources and attract industrialists.
The government is determined to create a climate of investment in the state. The ordinance is a part of the move to make the climate better for investments.
