GUWAHATI, Aug 4 � Expressing apprehensions that the Bill to legitimize the land-swap deal between India and Bangladesh would be brought in the Parliament in the coming monsoon session, the All Assam Lawyers� Association (AALA) today said that it is the high time to raise voice against the deal.
The pact signed between both the countries on September 6, 2011 faced stiff opposition in Assam with various organizations complaining that the State would have to cede a major portion of its land to the neighbouring country.
Addressing the media here, the AALA general secretary Shailendra Das, while opposing the land deal, said that there would be no use of staging protest demonstrations outside the Parliament or elsewhere, if strong lobbying is not done against the Bill now.
The AALA claimed that the Bill has been placed for Cabinet approval.
�We want to inform the people of Assam that there is every possibility of bringing the Bill in the Parliament during the monsoon session that is starting from August 8. The land swap deal signed in Dhaka is unconstitutional as the Indian Constitution has not empowered the Union government to make such type of international agreements,� Das said.
�To implement the agreement, the Union government would have to get the Bill passed as an Act. As per the procedure, the Bill can be passed by two third of the majority of MPs present and voting,� he added.
�When the deal was signed, we heard contradictory statements by our leaders in Assam and New Delhi. Thus, we thought it was our responsibility to make our people aware about the legal procedures, so that nobody can create confusion over the issue. Further, to oppose the Bill in a proper manner it is necessary to understand the equations,� he mentioned.
Further asking the opposition to make their stand clear over the issue, the AALA said that the political parties, having their wings in Assam should also clarify the unified stand of their party over the issue.
�Instead of voting against the Bill, if opposition walks out of the Parliament, it would upset the equations and the ruling party would easily get the Bill passed as an Act. All the organizations and individuals opposing the land deal would have to keep this in mind,� Das said.
AALA president Rohini Kumar Das also said that the people of Assam should take timely action against the Bill and asked the State government to respect the sentiment of the people of Assam, which is against the Indo-Bangla land deal.
