Modi pats Sonowal govt for steps against Satra land, Kaziranga encroachments

SIVASAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today heaped praises on the Sarbananda Sonowal government for steps taken for eviction of encroachments on Satra (Vaishnavite monastery) lands in different parts of the state as well as in the Kaziranga National Park.

Taking a cue from the BJP’s oft repeated claims that migrant settlers have encroached Satra land, he alleged that Satra land and KNP land were being encroached. “The people of Assam are aware more than me how land of Satras, including that of the Batodrava Satra, and the Kaziranga National Park have been encroached. The incumbent government deserves kudos for making efforts to evict those places. Steps are being taken for further beautification of the Park,” the prime minister said.

“Over the past four and a half years, many efforts have been made to preserve historical objects of religious and spiritual importance,” he added.

Launching land documents distribution among 1.06 lakh indigenous beneficiaries at the historic Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar district, Modi said: “The people of Assam are traditionally attached to their land for their self respect and security. However, when the Sonowal government assumed office, there were 6 lakh indigenous people who did not have documents pertaining to their land. The earlier governments did not care to give them land documents on a priority basis.

“The new land policy of 2019 is a testimony of the state government’s commitment to the interest of the people. Your government has mitigated your biggest woe.”

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He symbolically distributed pattas (land allotment documents) to 10 beneficiaries in presence of Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, agriculture minister Atul Bora, water resources minister Keshav Mahanta, Union minister Rameshwar Teli and others before addressing the gathering.

With Assembly elections round the corner, the Assam government that failed to seal the Indo-Bangla border or implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to safeguard the indigenous people of the state as promised before the 2016 elections, allotted plots of varied sizes at different areas to over 1 lakh people.

The prime minister also counted statistics of the beneficiaries of various central and state schemes including those of Ujjala, electrification, water supply et al. He, however, refrained from making any statement on the failed pre-poll promises of the BJP-led government in the state or the failure the Centre to give Scheduled Tribe status to at least six indigenous communities of the state.

Modi also stated that his government has rechristened Netaji’s Birthday, which is celebrated today, as Parakram Diwas. “Many programmes are being organised nationwide to mark the occasion,” he said.