RANCHI: The Opposition parties as well as AJSU, a close aide of the ruling BJP alliance in Jharkhand, are up in arms after a section of media reports stated that President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the state’s land acquisition bill.
Meanwhile, Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA), a tribal outfit, has called a statewide bandh on June 18.
On Saturday, Leader of Opposition and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha executive president Hemant Soren has now given a 24-hour deadline to the Raghubar Das-led BJP government to clear ambiguity regarding the bill.
The bill pertains to enabling the government to eliminate the step of conducting a social impact assessment (SIA) for land acquisition for 10 specific purposes. Besides, it also provides for compensation to be given within six months.
Soren called it an attempt to wash out the identity of the State and keep it mortgaged in the hands of corporate houses. "If it is true that the President has given its consent to the bill, then it will be in the interest of this State that the Chief Minister himself withdraws it within 24 hours," he said. “If it is not done, then the JMM will be compelled to launch a campaign.”
The JMM leader appealed to all the MLAs to unite and weed out the ‘government of corporate houses’. "Similar attempts were made by the government for making changes in CNT and SPT Acts, but it withdrew them due to pressure by the Opposition parties."
While AJSU has also urged all parties to rethink over the bill, JVM promised that the legislation would be restored in original form once it comes to power.
AJSU said the reported amendments were against the sentiments of the people of this State. "The bill will have a far-reaching impact on the people of Jharkhand, leading to a drop in agricultural land and increase in its acquisition for non-agricultural purposes," said AJSU spokesperson Deo Sharan Bhagat. “‘Jal’, ‘Jungle’ aur ‘Zameen’ (water, forest and land) is not only a part of agriculture but also a part of tribal culture.”