Odisha tribal land transfer row: Aparajita Sarangi alleges malicious intent to help non-Odia land grabbers

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Sunday slammed BJD over the regulation pertaining to the transfer of tribal lands to non-tribals.

The senior BJP leader also said that the move by the ruling party was clearly with a malicious intent to help some non-Odia land grabbers and select corporates.

“Decision of @bjd_odisha to close the State Assembly Session in 4 days instead of the originally scheduled 30 days is both intriguing and reflects deep-rooted fear,” Sarangi wrote on her social media account X (earlier known as Twitter).

“Cabinet proposal to amend the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to allow the sale of tribal land to non-tribal was clearly with a malicious intent to help some non-Odia land grabbers and select corporate,” she further wrote.

Sarangi also asked some pertinent questions regarding the regulation pertaining to the transfer of tribal lands to non-tribals.
 
“If the Tribes Advisory Committee (TAC) had recommended it in July 2023,why was it hidden from the public domain? Why no public consultation? Who were the intended beneficiaries? Was it some non-Odia land grabbers or corporate groups who were behind this decision?” asked Sarangi.

“Can the Government make public the audio and video recordings of the TAC to allay fears that the issue has been inserted without having been in the agenda and without any discussions in TAC? Why did the government announce the Cabinet decision while such substantive amendments require the approval of the President of India? How can they make a public announcement of a crucial amendment without seeking the assent of the President of India? Can @CMO_Odisha answer?” Sarangi further asked.