Nagaon: Farmers from Mikir Bamuni Grant, under the Barhampur Legislative Assembly constituency in Nagaon district, formally submitted a petition at the office of the Nagaon District Commissioner on Friday, seeking land ownership rights (Mikir Bamuni Grant Land Ownership).
The application was filed by raiyati khatian–holding farmers of Mikir Bamuni under the initiative of the All India Kisan Sabha and the Bhumi Adhikar Joutha Sangram Samiti. The petition was submitted using Forms 5 and 6 under Section 23 of the “Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971”.
Criticism of the Government
Speaking at the programme, Jayanta Gogoi, State Council Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, demanded that the government grant land ownership rights to the farmers of Mikir Bamuni at the earliest.
Manoj Singha Raja, Nagaon District Secretary of the organisation, sharply criticised the state government while addressing the media. He said that although the BJP government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma has implemented schemes such as “Basundhara 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0”, genuine indigenous farmers are still deprived of land rights.
He alleged that the government has opened the door for land acquisition only for wealthy capitalists.
Background of the Dispute
It may be mentioned that in 2019, the district administration carried out eviction by using bulldozers on the agricultural land of raiyati farmers of Mikir Bamuni for the installation of a solar power project by Azure Power Company.
At that time, the district administration had stated that the farmers were not raiyati patta holders. However, later, in response to a question raised by then Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, it was clarified that they were indeed genuine raiyati farmers.
Subsequently, the farmers obtained their raiyati khatian (Record of Rights) through the RTI process.
Leaders Present
Those present at the programme included farmer leaders Chikari Rongpi, Laxiram Mardi, and Gopal Hancher, along with Rajen Timung, Secretary of the CPI’s Mikir Bamuni branch, and a large number of farmers.
The All India Kisan Sabha stated that since it has stood with the farmers from the very beginning of the movement, the struggle will continue until justice is delivered.
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