Bodo students body protests giving land to Patanjali Yogpeeth

Guwahati, Aug 25 (PTI) The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU)today opposed allotment of 485 hectares of land to BabaRamdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust) in Chirang district ofBodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). "The BTC administration handed over the land to Ramdev’sPatanjali last year. They have already started someconstruction work. We do not want this land to be given toPatanjali," ABSU president Pramod Boro told reporters here. The people of BTAD want a government institution on theland for the benefit of local residents, he said. "The allotted area includes legally owned land from Bodos,Rajbongshis and some Muslims. Also government-owned plots havebeen handed over. However, no deal or compensation has beenpaid to the land owners yet. In fact, many owners do not knowthat their land has been given," Boro alleged. The student leader said most conflicts in Assam weretaking place due to land related issues and so the authoritiesshould have acted responsibly. "The BTC authority is saying the area is being encroachedby illegal immigrants and to stop that, the land was handedover to Patanjali. What logic is this? There are many placesacross Assam where encroachments have taken place. Will allthose land be handed over to Patanjali?" asked Boro. During the Budget Session in Assam Assembly earlier thismonth, minister of state for Revenue Pallab Lochan Das hadinformed the House that the BTC Authority allotted 484.93hectares of land to the Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust). "As per decision of the Executive Council meeting of BTC,land has been allotted to Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust) forestablishment of Cow and Panchagavya Research for preservationand promotion of cow breeds and training and collection ofmedicinal plants," he had said. The minister had also informed that the land has to beutilised within three years from the issue of the allotmentorder, otherwise it would be reverted to the RevenueDepartment of BTC. PTI TR DKBSMJ