Against Sell-off of Agricultural Lands by BJP Gov in Assam

SADOU ASOM GRAMEEN SHRAMIK SANTHA organised protests on 11 July in many districts of Assam including Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Hojai and Goalpara demanding repeal of a recent ordinance on reclassification and transfer of agricultural lands for non-agricultural purposes. This Ordinance has been brought forth on the lines of central government’s similar ordinance brought in the name of the so called ‘releif package’ to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. This "Self-reliant Asom" rhetoric by Sarbananda Sonowal led BJP government to hand over agricultural lands to big corporates is being opposed by the Assam’s farming community.

The protesters also demanded to release all political prisoners including Akhil Gogoi, Bitu Sonowal, Dhairya Konwar and Manas Konwar.

According to this ordinance now agricultural lands can be used to set up new industries without any prior permission or license by any authority. This will impact the lives and livelihoods of rural and tribal population in an adverse manner and hence has triggered tremendous resentment.

The CPIML leaders Arup Kumar Mahanta and Shubhrajyoti Bardhan has said that the ordinance brought by CM of Assam on 9th July is an act to hoodwink the people.

Earlier, The Assam agricultural (Regulation Of Reclassification And Transfer For Non Agricultural Purpose) Act, 2015 was enacted by the same regime, which faced severe criticism for its anti-peasant and pro-corporate leanings by the Harishankar Brahma Committee and Biplab kumar Sarma Committee which were constituted for the purpose of protection of rights of indigenous people of Assam and the Committee on Clause 6 of the Assam accord respectively. The recommendations of these two Committees were never made public.

This ordinance was announced in haste and the state government didn't even bother to take advice from the high powered advisory committee headed by Subhas Das, a retired IAS officer, formed for the purpose of the worsened situation of the economy of the state.

Arup Kumar Mahanta said that this ordinance shall force the poor, marginal peasants to go for distress sale who are already bearing the brunt of the lockdown induced distress.

Now onwards no laws relating to environmental concerns, Factories’ Act, Industrial Dispute Act would be applicable for scrutiny when acquiring agricultural lands when this ordinance comes into effect.

The Assam Government has resorted to crackdown on all democratic movements and forces. Anti-CAA movement leaders like Akhil Gogoi, Dhairya Konwar, Manas Konwar, Bitu Sonowal etc are inside jails under false charges including draconian UAPA. CPIML has demanded all activists’ releaswe unconditionally and has called upon all left, democratic, secular and struggling progressive forces to give a befitting reply to this fascist regime.

- Arup Kumar Mahanta and Shubhrajyoti Bardhan, Assam