Guwahati, May 18: Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has strongly opposed the reported eviction and land acquisition drive in Assam’s Jagiroad area for a proposed township project linked to the Tata Group, warning the state government against displacing indigenous and tribal communities.
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| Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi. (File Photo) |
In an open message addressed to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, Gogoi urged the government not to commit what he described as a “historic mistake” by evicting Tiwa and other indigenous residents from their ancestral land in Sindhisar village under Jagiroad.
Gogoi alleged that land originally belonging to tribal communities was earlier acquired for the now-defunct Nagaon Paper Mill and later handed over to a private company, referring to the Tata Group project in the area. He claimed that despite large portions of land from the paper mill remaining unused, the government has again initiated surveys for fresh eviction and land acquisition in areas inhabited by Tiwa and other indigenous communities.
“The Tiwa people and other indigenous residents are strongly protesting against this move. Taking away their land again is inhuman, illegal and an insult to the indigenous communities,” Gogoi stated.
The Raijor Dal leader said protests by the Tiwa community are justified and warned that public anger is rising across Assam over the issue. He appealed to the government to publicly clarify that no eviction or forcible land acquisition would be carried out and urged authorities to hold discussions with local residents to reassure them.
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“We are observing the protests of the Tiwa people. Thousands of indigenous Assamese people are becoming agitated over the government’s actions,” he said.
Gogoi further warned that if the government does not withdraw the eviction and land acquisition plans, he and members of Raijor Dal would join the movement alongside the people of Jagiroad.
The statement comes amid growing opposition from local groups and residents over fears of displacement linked to the proposed township project in the Jagiroad region.
