AASU & other organizations oppose ordinance on Micro Small and Medium Enterperises

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) and several other organizations have opposed the State Council of Ministers' (CoM) decision to pass the MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterperises) ordinance. The ordinance, if passed, is set to put an end to the process of multiple permissions for the setting up of small and medium industries in the State for the next three years. The students' union has demanded of the State government to cancel the decision.

In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, AASU's adviser-in-chief Samujjal Bhattacharya said, "We can't accept a decision that is set to take land rights of the indigenous people of Assam."

AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said that after the outbreak of COVID-19, the State government has started to take decisions against the indigenous people of the State. "On July 2, we're going to burn the copies of the Cabinet decision in the State, barring Kamrup (M) district," the statement said.

Another organization, Bhumi Adhikar Sangram Samittee, Assam (BASSA) has made it clear that they won't allow lands of the indigenous people of the State to be taken away for the interest of industrialists.

In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, BASSA president Prabin Jyoti Kalita said, "Many revenue and land laws of the State have already been abolished for the interests of industrialists at the cost of the indigenous farmers. The ordinance proposed by the Council of Ministers is aimed at serving the purpose of industrialists. If such an ordinance becomes a reality, any agricultural land in the State can be used as industrial land. Over 70 per cent people of the State depend on farming. We oppose the proposed ordinance. We demand the Council of Ministers to roll back its decision."

Anusuchit Jati Yuba Chatra Parishad, Asom (AJYCPA) president Rubul Das said in a statement, "The policy taken by the government for the setting up of MSMEs in the State isn't acceptable. After forcibly imposing the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) on the people of Assam, this government is out to take away the lands of the indigenous people of the State forcibly. We won't accept such a decision."

Also Watch: CPI(M) Protests against Fuel Price Hike in Naharkatia