New Delhi: A day after Assam government passed an ordinance bringing flexibility in the requirement for permission to set up a new industry in the state, senior Supreme Court lawyer and convenor of Prabajan Virodhi Manch (platform against infiltration) Upamanyu Hazarika termed the ordinance as a death knell for not only agriculturists but to the 115 odd-indigenous ethnic communities in Assam.
“The proposed ordinance by which all agricultural land is Assam is opened to industries without any restrictions except for a self-certification, is a death knell for not only agriculturalists but the 115 small indigenous ethnic communities in Assam,” said Hazarika to ETV Bharat.
According to the ordinance passed by the Assam cabinet on Tuesday, anyone will be able to set up industry in Assam just by submitting a self-declaration. Assam Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the land will also be deemed converted for industrial purposes.
Hazarika said that with barely nine months remaining for the 2021 elections “it is a clear attempt by the ruling political party to gather funds from land speculators and enrich themselves.”
He said that for a Government which came to power on the slogan of Jati, Mati, Bheti i.e. protection of indigenous rights and land, “not only has it failed but taken proactive steps as in the present policy to destroy indigenous identity.”
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As soon as the Assam government passed the resolution, sections of people in the state had raised a hue and cry with several people raising environmental concerns and questioned the state's move against the backdrop of the recent Baghjan blowout incident.
The controversy is also raised over how this move is going to benefit the indigenous people and why land is being given away to companies and corporates instead of using it for rehabilitating the displaced indigenous people.
Hazarika said that the government is yet to implement the recommendations of the Clause 6 committee of Assam Accord which emphasised on the ways to protect the indigenous people of Assam.
“The Committee constituted under clause 6 of the Assam Accord for safeguarding indigenous identity and land, and whose report submitted nearly 4 months ago has not only been implemented but not even made public,” said Hazarika.
He said that opening up all land for non-agricultural use is in clear violation of the Assam Agricultural Land (Regulation of Re-classification and Transfer for non-agricultural purpose) Act, 2015 which protects agricultural land for non-agricultural use through various prohibitions and restrictions.
“In the last 5 years more land has gone under Bangladeshi encroachment under the active patronage of the present Government and it is the remaining agricultural in the hands of the indigenous people in Middle and Upper Assam, which this policy will ensure goes out of the hands of the indigenous,” said Hazarika.
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It may be mentioned here that the entire northeast especially Assam faced issues of illegal influx coming from across the border especially Bangladeshi. In the 80s Assam witnessed a vigorous anti-Bangladeshi movement initiated by All Assam Students Union (AASU).
The movement, however, ended with the signing of the historic Assam Accord in 1985 between the central government, state government and AASU.
The Accord vouches to protect the indigenous people in Assam.
“The Tiwa community has been one of the first victims of Bangladeshi infiltration, as they have been displaced from many places in Nagaon district and the recent establishment of an industrial belt in the Sonapur-Morigaon belt has further deprived them of their land threatening their identity. Such instances with other communities will only multiply if the proposed ordinance is brought in!” said Hazarika.
