BJP Petitions Odisha Governor Against Cabinet Decision On Tribal Land Transfer

Bhubaneswar: Opposition political parties in Odisha on Thursday intensified their protest against the state Cabinet’s decision on allowing transfer and sale of tribal land to non-tribals.

While the proceedings in the state Assembly were paralysed for the second day in a row amid uproar by the opposition over the issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs met Governor Raghubar Das and sought his intervention for complete withdrawal of the move.

A delegation of BJP legislators met the Governor at Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate withdrawal of the cabinet decision on the amendment of Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property Scheduled Tribe Regulation, 1956.

Condemning the state cabinet’s decision, senior BJP leader and opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi said that the party delegation urged the Governor to take steps to safeguard the interest of tribal people in the state.

Though the government, which came under attack over the issue, stated that the cabinet decision has been put on hold, BJP wants complete withdrawal of the move, he said

The leaders alleged that the state cabinet approved the transfer of immovable properties of tribal people to non-tribal people in scheduled area quoting a recommendation of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC).

The TAC in its meeting held on July 11, 2023, had sought relaxation for scheduled tribes to obtain bank loans for agriculture, construction of residential house and higher studies of children, they said.

However, the state government has approved transfer of immovable property of scheduled tribe to other than scheduled tribe in scheduled area which was not decided in the TAC meeting, they said.

Raising doubt on the government’s intention, the BJP legislators opposed the cabinet’s decision, which they term as ‘anti-tribal’.