Storm in House over Xatra land encroachment

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The state Assembly witnessed a stormy session today on the encroachment of xatra lands.

The issues that came up for discussion in the House were giving xatra lands for sharecropping, mutating xatra lands in the names of individuals, encroachment of xatra lands by the people belonging to the Islamic faith mostly, etc.

AGP MLA Pradip Hazarika, the chairman of the Xatra Protection Commission, raised the issue during Question Hour. He said, "Most of the xatra lands are under encroachment in the state. Around 100 bighas of Pirala Xatra in the Barpeta district were under illegal occupation. The court in 2005 gave its verdict in favour of the xatra. However, the lands of the xatras continue to be under encroachment to date.

"During my visit to the xatras, I found that most people belonging to the Islamic faith encroached upon the xatra lands. The encroachers may leave the lands voluntarily if the government makes them understand what xatras and their traditions are."

The reaction from Congress and AIUDF MLAs to this statement was knee-jerk. They demanded the Speaker to 'expunge' the phrase 'people belonging to Islamic faith' from the proceedings of the House as people belonging to other religious groups also encroached upon xatra lands. They said MLAs should use the term 'encroachers' without naming the religion to which the encroachers belong.

Opposition MLAs kept raising the demand for the expunging of 'Islamic faith' from the Hosue proceeding. Deputy Speaker Dr Numal Momin said, "I will see if the phrase is unparliamentary, and take the decision later."

Earlier, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan said, "The government has formed a commission to survey the encroachment of xatra lands and other problems afflicting them. The government has already instructed the deputy commissioners to carry out eviction drives to make xatra lands free from encroachment."

Congress MLA Abdul Rahim Ahmed said, "Many xatradhikars gave xatra lands to others for sharecropping as the xatras were financially not sound. And the xatra lands have been with the sharecroppers since then."

AIUDF MLA Ashraful Hussain said, "There should be an inquiry into the mutation of the lands of Pirala Xatra in the name of a particular individual."

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