GUWAHATI, Jan 22 � The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Wednesday announced its decision to forcefully occupy the agricultural land that has been illegally transferred to the corporate houses and a section of influential individuals and hand over the same to the landless and flood and erosion-affected farmers of the State.
Addressing media persons in Guwahati, KMSS president Akhil Gogoi said that the organisation has been compelled to take the ultimate decision as all the protests and pleas to stop transfer of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes have fallen on deaf ears.
�We have submitted more than 15 memorandums to the State Government and not less than 10 memorandums to the Deputy Commissioners of Kamrup (Metro) and (Rural). We even had a round of discussion with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on this issue, and despite the assurance that he gave us, nothing has been done so far to put an end to the illegal transfer of agricultural land,� said Akhil.
It needs to be mentioned here that KMSS activists have been on the streets since long demanding an immediate stop to illegal transfer of agricultural land and arrest of the so-called land mafias. It had led several protest movements against the corporate houses and organised public meetings as well on the issue.
�The landless farmers have waited for long and now the time for action has come,� added Akhil mentioning that more than four lakh bighas of arable land in the State has been used for non-agricultural purposes. He said that around 4.5 lakh people of the State affected by natural calamities are still taking shelter on the embankments and they need to be rehabilitated.
Akhil said that the decision to occupy the land illegally transferred to the corporate houses has been taken after garnering the opinion of the people of Assam. �We held 35 meetings across the State and on the basis of the opinion of the public we have decided to occupy the land,� he said mentioning that there is no alternative now for the farmers except taking back the land by force.
The forceful occupation of land will be carried out by the KMSS within a week and across the State.
