Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay on Friday attacked the State Government that it did not consider tribal sentiments and nor felt its pulse when it decided to amend the decades-old Chhotanagpur and Santal Paragana Tenancy Act (CNT and SPT).
Addressing a Press meet at the Chemmury Guest House, the Congress leader said any attempt to amend CPT and SPT Acts would make the tribal loss their ownership of the land.
“The tribals have been ditched by the Government. The Act has been sent to the State Governor for her approval, which would be then sent send to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs before reaching the President for final approval. We want all the Opposition parties against the amendment to join together and raise voice to make the authorities think twice before approving for amendment as after the amendment the nature of agriculture land would change which would put a question mark on the ownership rights over the tribal land” said Sahay.
The Congress leader also announced that he will launch and lead party campaign in Kolhan against Centre’s demonetisation and State Government amendment of age-old tenancy Acts of tribal land in the coming year.
The former Ranchi MP who reached city last night will visit various block of three districts of East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum (all in Kolhan region) in the next few days and interacting with masses and district-level leaders and taking their feedback.
As per our plans, the findings of the interactions will be submitted before senior leaders — including party president Sukhdeo Bhagat and party national level leaders at Delhi. The findings would form the basis for the party to chalk out statewide agitation simultaneously across all the 24 district in the next year,” said Sahay.
Elaborating on the problems, Sahay said that demonetisation has its effect on the poor farmers. The poor and small farmers were unable to take their produce to market and were selling foodgrains and vegetables at throw away prices, he said, adding many were dumping tomatoes at roadside.
He also termed Raghubar Das’s ongoing visit to Singapore as mere ‘merrymaking’. He said that for long the industrialists have been seeking cooperation from the State Government in addressing their grievances particularly on specific issues of land, electricity water and road.
Sahay said that several of the small and medium enterprises based at Adityapur industrial area, Asia’s leading industrial hub, is forced flee state in the wake of indifferent attitude of the State Government towards the SMEs.