Assam CM Criticizes Congress for Encroachment on Vaishnavite Monastery Lands
Chief Minister's Accusations Against Previous Government
Guwahati, June 27: On Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the former Congress administration of facilitating extensive encroachment on lands belonging to Vaishnavite monasteries (Satras), claiming that they prioritized the appeasement of illegal immigrants over the rights of local communities.
In a social media post, Sarma revealed that more than 13,000 bighas, equivalent to over 4,300 acres, of Satra land had been encroached upon during the Congress tenure.
He stated, "The Congress government disregarded the feelings of indigenous people while catering to their illegal immigrant vote bank, resulting in the encroachment of 922 Satra lands," as he shared on a popular microblogging platform.
The Chief Minister provided specific data, indicating that Barpeta saw encroachment of 7,137 bighas (2,355.21 acres), Nagaon faced 2,583.79 bighas (852.66 acres), Bajali had 2,757.39 bighas (909.94 acres), and Lakhimpur experienced encroachment of 896.76 bighas (295.94 acres).
"We are committed to reclaiming these lands," he emphasized, reiterating his government's dedication to restoring the Satras, which hold significant cultural and religious importance in Assam's Vaishnavite tradition.
Earlier this month, Sarma announced the establishment of a permanent Satra Aayog aimed at ensuring the welfare and protection of Satras throughout the state. This body is intended to offer long-term solutions and institutional support for these historic sites.
This announcement followed a review of findings from a temporary Satra Aayog, which was set up in November 2021, led by AGP MLA Pradip Hazarika, with BJP MLAs Mrinal Saikia and Rupak Sarma as members.
The temporary Aayog visited 126 Satras, assessed their challenges, and provided recommendations for their sustainable development and protection.
With inputs from a news agency