The BJP on Thursday accused the Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government of manipulating recommendation of the Tribal Advisory Council to allow tribals to transfer their land to non-tribals by way of amending the Orissa Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) (OSATIP) Regulation, 1956.
The Cabinet decision of approving amendment in the legislation had triggered massive controversy. Subsequently, the government put the Cabinet approval on hold. It has, however, not satisfied the Opposition as the first three days of the Winter Session of Odisha Legislative Assembly were disrupted following demands by BJP and Congress MLAs for complete withdrawal of the Cabinet decision.
After a delegation of BJP MLAs met Governor Raghubar Das, they said: “The State government has informed that Cabinet has approved transfer of immovable property of a Scheduled Tribe to other than ST in Scheduled areas. It quotes that the Cabinet approval is as recommended by the TAC.”
