Koch Rajbongshis Seek Protection of Land Rights

GUWAHATI: The (KRNC) Koch Rajbongshi National Convention has sought an amendment to the existing land policy in Assam to incorporate a clause for the protection of lands belonging to the Koch Rajbongshis.

At a meeting held on Saturday the KRNC raised the demand before the government to ensure that the lands belonging to the Koch Rajbongshis are not purchased by people of other communities. Talking to The Sentinel on the issue, KRNC general secretary Biswajit Rai said: “We appeal to the State government to ensure that lands belonging to the Koch Rajbongshis are not purchased by people belonging to other communities. The State government should also ensure that if anybody belonging to other communities have already bought lands belonging to the Koch Rajbongshis or are trying to buy, the government should make a legal devise to return such lands to the land owners. We demand the government not to permit people of other communities to purchase lands belonging to Koch Rajbongshis. We also warn land brokers asking them to desist from selling lands of Koch Rajbongshis to people of other communities.”

Rai further said: “Such a step from the State government can protect the land rights of the indigenous people of Assam, or else people of doubtful nationalities and people from other States will keep on purchasing our lands and push us towards an uncertain future. We’re going to send a letter to the State administration to this effect soon.”

Rai also appealed to the State and the Central governments to take the process of according ST status to the Koch Rajbongshi within six months, besides ensuring ten per cent quota for Koch Rajbongshi students for admission in higher education.

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