Bandhu not a Cong man yet, free to protest land bill: Oraon

Ranchi: Amid protests at the 22 circle offices in Ranchi on Tuesday against the proposed Land Mutation Bill organised by Mandar MLA Bandhu Tirkey, state finance minister (also the state Congress chief) Rameshwar Oraon said the former is free to protest as he is yet to formally become a part of the Grand Old Party. Tirkey was ousted from Babulal Marandi-led JVM-P after it was merged with BJP recently.
“It is yet to become a law and the Hemant Soren government is always open to constructive opinions for larger interest of the people of Jharkhand,” Oraon said. “I concede land is an important and sensitive issue in Jharkhand and hence any decision related to it will only be through greater consultations,” he added.
Besides Tirkey, BJP is also against the bill, whose Section 22 gives protection to land and revenue department officials responsible for registration, mutation and other works from any civil and criminal case, thereby granting immunity even in case of wrongdoings.
Oraon said, “Bandhuji is free to protest as he isn’t officially a part of Congress even though he had joined us. The party’s proposal of his joining Congress is still pending in the assembly.” Oraon added, “We have spoken to him to know about his apprehensions and concerns regarding the bill and have asked him to put it formally in the party forum during the legislative party meet before the Monsoon session on September 17. He has informed us that he will come.”
On Monday, K K Soan, secretary of the state land and revenue department, which drafted the bill, had defended it stating that it was meant for larger reforms and not to protect tainted officials or those who discharge their duties with wrong intentions.
Speaking over phone, Tirkey said, “He (Soan) yesterday (Monday) said the government will be independent in acting against erring officials, but I want to know what are the yardsticks fixed in the bill to decide who is wrong? I have a list of over 2,000 cases of land frauds in Ranchi alone pending for years. What is the need to hurry on such crucial bills at a time when there exists a slew of unsolved cases? The bill needs to go back till it is pro-people.”