Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJP and Congress continued to stall the Assembly Proceedings for the second day today over the State Cabinet’s decision to allow Scheduled Tribe (ST) people to sell their land to non-tribals.
Soon after the House assembled for the day for Question Hour, the BJP and the Congress intensified their protest in the Assembly, demanding the roll-back of the Cabinet’s decision.
Speaker Pramila Mallik adjourned the proceeding till 4 PM, as Members of the Opposition trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans against the BJD Government.
After the adjournment of the House, BJP Lawmakers marched to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Raghubar Das and submit a memorandum on the transfer of tribal land.
In the memorandum, the BJP members said the Tribal Advisory Council in its last meeting which was held on date 11.07.2023, recommended relaxation for scheduled tribes to obtain bank loans for agriculture, construction of residential houses and higher studies of children only. But the Government has approved transfer of immovable property of Scheduled Tribe to other than Scheduled Tribe in scheduled area which was not decided in this TAC meeting 2023 unanimously, they said.
“Therefore, we condemn the action of the Odisha Government which is against the interest of Scheduled Tribe people. The intention of the Government is doubtful,” read the memorandum.
The BJP MLAs sought intervention of the Governor in order to safeguard the interest of Scheduled Tribe people in the State.
Adorned ‘Angabastra’ with tribal motifs, the BJP members held placards aloft and raised slogans in the House, alleging that the Government’s decision would encourage corporate houses to grab tribal land in the mineral-rich areas of the State. They demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announce the complete withdrawal of the cabinet decision on the tribal land transfer.
Opposition Whip and BJP MLA Mohan Majhi said that the Speaker again rejected their request to allow a motion to discuss the issue suspending other businesses of the House. “The Cabinet should withdraw the land transfer rule. The BJP will continue to corner the government till the decision is not revoked,” he told reporters outside the House.
Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati said his party is working for the development of tribals, the members raised the issue in the House for the second day. As the BJD Government is on the backfoot for its decision, it has adjourned the House directly till 4 PM, he said.
The Congress Members emanded the proper implementation of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996 in Odisha.
Though Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi had announced that the November 14 Cabinet decision was put on hold, the Opposition demands complete withdrawal of it.
