'Anti-Tribal' Accusations Swirl In Odisha Assembly, As BJP Protests Against Patnaik Government's Decision To Allow Sale Of Tribal Lands To Non-Tribals

The Odisha Assembly witnessed turbulent scenes on Wednesday (22 November) as members of the opposition protested against the state government's decision to permit scheduled tribe (ST) individuals to sell their land to non-tribals.

During the question hour, opposition members from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, expressing their discontent, entered the well of the house, shouting slogans and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the decision.

The opposition and the treasury bench accused each other of being 'anti-tribal,' leading to multiple adjournments.

On 14 November, the Odisha cabinet had initially decided to amend the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by STs) Regulation, 1956, allowing ST individuals to transfer their land to non-tribals in scheduled areas with written permission from the sub-collector.

However, two days later, the government put the decision on hold.

Congress members also called for the implementation of the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996 in the state.

Outside the assembly, BJP members staged a protest, condemning the government's move.

The BJP chief whip in the assembly, Mohan Majhi, criticised the decision, stating that it goes against the constitutional provisions and questioning the government's motives in taking such a step.

Majhi emphasised that since the legislation was only put on hold, the BJP is demanding its complete withdrawal to prevent potential reinforcement by the government.

Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, expressed a partial welcome for one of the cabinet's decisions but opposed the move to allow the transfer of ST land to non-tribals. He also demanded the implementation of the PESA Act, 1996 to protect the interests of the tribals.

Minister of School and Mass Education of Odisha, Sudam Marndi rejected the opposition's accusations of being 'anti-tribal,' asserting that the Biju Janata Dal government, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has consistently worked for the welfare of tribals.

Marndi clarified that the recent cabinet decision had been withheld as per the chief minister's directive and accused the opposition of engaging in cheap politics and disrupting the house over the issue.