Jharkhand Congress protests against amendment in land acts

Hundreds of Congress workers on Thursday marched towards the state assembly to protest against the Raghubar Das-led BJP government's move to amend two land acts.

The Congress workers gathered at Birsa Munda roundabout here and marched towards the state assembly but they were stopped near the HEC gate. A minor scuffle also broke out between the police and the Congress workers.

The Das government has sought to amend two land acts -- the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNTA) and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (SPTA) -- through an ordinance in June which was sent to the President by Governor Draupdi Murmu for his assent.

As the ordinance is pending with the President since then, the government has decided to bring it in form of a bill during the winter session that began on Thursday.

"We will fight from street to assembly against the Raghubar Das government's wrong polices. We demand roll back of the proposed amendment in the land acts. The Das government is trying to acquire land for the industrial houses," said Sukhdeo Bhagat, president of the state Congress unit.

Echoing his views, Congress General Secretary Alok Dubey said: "When tribal and Moolvasi people do not want to amend the land acts then why the Das government is hell-bent to amend the acts. The BJP government is plying with the sentiments of the tribal people of the state."

Other opposition parties also protested against the amendment in the assembly premises.

BJP alliance partner All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) is also opposing the amendments to the two land acts.

--IANS

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