Senior tribal BJP leaders along with legislators on Thursday sought the State Government to drop the amendments proposed in the CNT and SPT Acts for changing the nature of the tribal agricultural land.

The meeting had been called by BJP State chief laxman Gilua to discuss the future course of action after Governor Droupadi Murmu returned the Bill with around 192 objections received from various sections of the society.

“We expressed our views and looked into the objections raised by the Governor over the amendment Bills. There was a wider consensus among the leaders that the provisions meant for tribal agricultural land should be dropped or mellowed down keeping in mind the sentiments of the tribal community. The Welfare Department will consult more groups and prepare a draft to be discussed in the TAC meeting. After getting assent from there, the drafts would be sent to the Cabinet and placed during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly,” said a BJP legislator who is also a member of the TAC after the consultation.

Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, lohardaga MP Sudarshan Bhagat, Ministers louis Marandi and Neelkanth Singh Munda, MlA BJP tribal leaders’

thumbs down to land profile change Marandi, Menka Sardar, Shiv Shankar Oraon, laxaman Tudu, Hare Krishna Singh, Ram Kumar Pahan along with TAC member JB Tubid besides, leaders of the party’s ST wing were present in the meeting that continued for nearly four hours.

Senior leader and Khunti MP Karia Munda who has been staunch critic of the new provisions being made was also invited. “Invitation had come to me as well but I had informed them due to an urgent meeting I would remain in Delhi and could not remain present there. I am still against any changes in the CNT-SPT laws,” said Munda over phone from Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Government has formally set the ball rolling concerning to the ongoing CNT-SPT amendment controversy. A meeting of the apex decision making body related to tribal affairs—Tribal Advisory Council (TAC)—has been called on July 3 ahead of the Government calling yet another meeting of BJP legislative body on July 11.

Top sources in the Government confirmed to The Pioneer on Thursday that the TAC would be vetting the new set of regulations expected to be overhauled into the existing CNT and SPT amendment Bills, sent back by Governor Droupadi Murmu for reconsideration.

“TAC is set to meet on July 3. There is a larger consensus within the party and also in the Government that the provisions meant to alter with nature of agricultural lands belonging to tribals should be given a rethought. A fresh draft would be discussed and proposed at the TAC to be sent to the Cabinet for approval,” said an official.