Evictions will continue till we're in power: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday asserted in the Assam Legislative Assembly in clear terms that the drive to evict encroachers from xatra, forest and government land will continue unabated so long as the incumbent government remains in power.

Responding to issues regarding the occupation of a school on Assam's land by Mizoram and the eviction drive in Batadrova, which were raised in the House during Zero Hour by Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, the Chief Minister appealed to those encroaching upon xatra land to leave on their own volition. Otherwise, he said, they will be definitely evicted because the xatras are integral to the Assamese identity.

Sarma observed that the Congress is raising a hue and cry over the evictions in Batadrova, and questioned the Opposition party as to why it did not grant land pattas to the encroachers during the long decades when it was in power. "In reality, the Congress was indulging in politics by keeping them in a state of insecurity. That is why successive Congress governments did not give land pattas to such people", he told the House.

The Chief Minister further said that the government's drive against encroachers is not based on religion, caste or creed. If there are any genuine landless people among the evictees, then they can apply for grant of land to the Deputy Commissioner and they will receive land rights as per procedure, Sarma said. However, he added, most of the encroachers already own land in other places.

Mentioning that the Gauhati High Court has repeated directed the government to clear encroachers from forest land in various districts, Sarma informed the House that massive evictions will be carried out very soon in the Pabhoi reserve forest and forests located in the Goalpara district.

"If the Congress has any problem with such steps, it is free to approach the High Court", he added.

Regarding encroachment of Assam's land by neighbouring states, Sarma said that the state government is carrying on negotiations with the neighbouring states concerned to resolve border disputes. He said that he is hopeful that all the disputes will be resolved through dialogue in the next five years. He urged the Congress not to derail the dispute-resolution process through needless provocation.

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