Cabinet Minister Saryu Roy sparking a fresh controversy on the ongoing tenancy amendment Bills has put his own Government in the dock.

Soon after his return from three-day training from Ahmadabad, the senior Minister asked as to why did the Government go for the changes in the law in the first place, when there were differences within the party.

Roy also underlined lack of communication as the main reason behind the Bills hanging fire. “CNT-SPT is a controversial issue and efforts should have been to build consensus within and outside the party. It should have been ensured first that social fabric of the society is not disturbed by the decision. I cannot understand why the Government went ahead when there was not one voice within the BJP over the amendments,” the senior Minister told The Pioneer. 

Moreover, Roy was also part of the Cabinet meeting that had cleared the proposals before being presented and passed by the Assembly. Notably the BJP after Governor Droupadi Murmu sent back the twin Bills to the Government has initiated fresh consultations that started with tribal MlAs, MPs and other leaders of the party brainstorming on Thursday.

The Minister, nonetheless, is still clueless whether he or others in the party or the Government would be consulted. “I can say anything only if I am asked. He (Chief Minister Raghubar Das) has not talked to me so far on this issue. I also wonder that the matter was kept under wraps after the Governor had sent this back to the Government for a relook about a month ago,” he said with anguish.

Roy, who also holds the Parliamentary Affairs ministry, was also not much hopeful about ending the standoff that has involved the ruling party, Opposition and host of social organisations.

“What I see that the matter might be discussed in the TAC (Tribal Advisory Council) and then presented before the Assembly. But last three sessions have been washed out and I am not sure whether any way out would be found this time around. After consulting the CM and if he agrees, there can be an all party meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session,” he added.

When asked about opinion building up to drop two most contentious provisions of the tenancy law amendment Bills that allow to alter nature of agricultural land belonging to tribals, Roy saw no merit in this either. “Then what would be left in the BillIJ Just ending compensation provision and shutting down SAR court would remain there,” he said.