Apparently toeing former Chief Minister Arjun Munda's suggestions on the amendments in the CNT-SPT Acts, in a letter to Chief Minister Raghubar Das, the State BJP has decided to ask the Government to go back to basics after consultation on the controversies over amendment in the twin tenancy laws with tribal and non-tribal leaders and other stakeholders on Thursday and Friday.
State BJP president laxman Gilua said after a meeting organised on the same issue on Friday that the party would suggest the Government not to amend Sections 21, 49 and 71 of the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and Section 13 of Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act in any fresh CNT/SPT Amendment Bill.
"After detailed consultation with tribal and non-tribal leaders of the party during the last two days, we have decided to suggest the Government not to change some of the key provisions of existing CNT/SPT Act, as the party is committed to protect the interests of locals in the State. These include Section 21, 49 and 71 of CNT Act and Section 13 of SPT Act," said Gilua where BJP State general secretary Deepak Prakash and spokespersons JB Tubid and Pratul Shahdeo were also present.
The BJP has held the brainstorming sessions after Governor Droupadi Murmu returned the tenancy laws amendment Bill for reconsideration of the Government.
Gilua, however, added that any fresh amendment Bill by the Government in Monsoon Session of the Assembly, beginning July 11 was unlikely, keeping various aspects in mind. He said that the party was open to invite further suggestions from all the corners of society before any fresh amendment Bill is brought in public domain in order to help the Government come up with amendments which would not only help it carry on its pro-people development agenda in the State ahead, but would also attract no protest from any corner of the society.
He also said that the party would ask the Government come down harsh on all those who had grabbed tribal lands in anyway without land owner's consent in the past.
Notably, all the Opposition parties, and even a faction of ruling BJP have remained extremely vocal against the Government's move to amend Section 21 of CNT and 13 of SPT Act, which could otherwise have given the Government power of changing nature of the land use once the Bill was signed by the Governor, the supreme custodian of both the local acts in State. At the same time, amendment in Section 49 of the CNT Act which if passed could have given freedom to the Government to acquire land for any purpose was not only protested by Opposition parties, but was also protested by civic society backed directly or indirectly by Opposition leaders.
However, the party said that it believed that the Government should remain focused on acquiring agriculture land exclusively for public purpose and land ownership should in no case go to private hands. "Though the Government didn't touch land owners' consent part in amendment Bill earlier also, we have decided to suggest it to keep the Act intact," said Tubid. Gilua said that Chief Minister Raghubar Das had agreed upon not making any change in Section 21 of CNT and 13 of SPT Act after meeting on Thursday.