Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: Kicking off its campaign against the changes made in the state land acquisition bill, the united Opposition parties staged a day long 'dharna' at Raj Bhawan in Ranchi and other district headquarters all across the State on Monday. Meanwhile, the BJP, to reach out to the people directly, also staged 'dharna' at mandal level under its 'pol khol - halla bol' programme against the Opposition's move to misguide people for the efforts made by the State Government to simplify land acquisition bill in the State.

The Opposition parties in Jharkhand, making an effort to mobilise people against the ruling BJP alliance in the name of land acquisition bill, has announced step wise movement starting from June 25 with 'dharna' at all district headquarters. As per the schedule chalked out during a meeting held at the residence of leader of Opposition Hemant Soren on June 18, a 'sankalp diwas' will be observed on June 30. A 24-hour Jhakhand bandh has been called on July 5 and a march towards Raj Bhawan will be organised on July 16.

"Today's 'dharna' is against the State Government's move to acquire tribal land forcefully with the help of bullets without having any policy in this regard. This is an attack on the basic character of the tribal people of Jharkhand as the State Government has been making all efforts of loot their land in the State," said former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha General Secretary and Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya also alleged that the change in land bill was being done by the ruling BJP alliance only to promote loot of tribal land in Jharkhand. "Dharna is held staged at all district headquarters to mobilise people in our favour to make Jharkhand bandh on July 5 a success,” he added.

Central Secretary of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Santosh Kumar opined that the State Government will be compelled to withdraw the land acquisition bill under the pressure of united opposition, as was done in the case of CNT and SPT Act where it had to withdraw the bill after attracting all round protest from within and outside the government.

Following media reports that President Ram Nath Kovind had cleared the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Jharkhand Amendment) Act 2017, JMM Executive President Hemant Soren had given 24-hour time to the State Government to clear its stand. When the State Government did not paid any heed to the deadline given by Soren, he called a meeting of Opposition Parties at his residence on June 18 and a stepwise schedule was chalked out to corner it over the issue.