Guwahati: In a novel protest against the state government’s actions, women staged a semi-nude protest in Guwahati on Friday.
The protest was against an eviction drive in Silsako Beel (lake) area as excavators ravaged to the ground a number of houses to clear alleged encroached land of the wetland, reported PTI.
As police and civil administration personnel reached the area to carry out the eviction, local people came out in protest.
They initially raised slogans against the government and tried to prevent police from entering the area.
As two women protestors disrobed themselves, stripping down to their undergarments, policewomen rushed to cover them and took them away, along with several other protestors.
The eviction drive was carried out with several excavators pressed into action to demolish the houses in the area.
According to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the administration launched an eviction drive after consulting with local people and providing as assurance that compensation will be paid to eligible candidates.
“There was a discussion with the public for the last three days and the eviction was done after reaching an understanding. The district commissioner had informed the people about the compensation to be paid. We will build flats for the landless evicted people,” Biswa Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Nagaon.
Without taking names, the CM said those protesting are from a specific organisation. “They will protest against anything we do. We will take strict action against them,” Biswa Sarma added.
A couple whose house was demolished claimed that they had bought the land for Rs 4 lakh in 2007 from a local ‘committee’, which had assured them that no eviction will take place in the area.
“The government has thrown us out so that they can sell this land to the rich for crores of rupees. Where will we go now? Our lives are over,” they.
Opposition parties criticised the government, with Assam Jatiya Parishad chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi alleging that women are no longer safe under BJP rule.
“We are shocked and distressed at such a protest. For the first time, women had to strip and protest in our state,” he said.
