Raijor Dal Alleges Land Grab for Gautam Adani’s Business Empire in Assam

Raijor Dal held a press conference at its Mathgharia, Guwahati headquarters on Tuesday, raising serious allegations against the BJP government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The party accused the administration of facilitating large-scale land acquisitions to expand Gautam Adani’s business empire, threatening the livelihoods of local communities across Assam. The party also alleged that the government is trying to hand over about 50,000 bighas of land to the Adani Group while carrying out evictions in various parts of the state.

Gautam Adani’s Business Empire and Its Projects in Assam

Raijor Dal’s working president, Bhasko De Saikia, highlighted several projects linked to Gautam Adani’s business empire, alleging they prioritize corporate interests over those of Assam’s indigenous population. Notably, all these projects have been established during the BJP’s tenure.

  These projects include:

• Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati: Control handed over to the Adani Group.
• Smart Meter Project: A ₹840 crore contract awarded to Adani.
• Aerocity Construction: Plans for a multi-thousand-crore Aerocity project near Guwahati airport, requiring significant land acquisition.
• Thermal Power Project: A 3,000 MW project on 3,500 bighas of land in Dhubri.
• Solar Power Project: A solar energy initiative on 12,000 bighas in Karbi Anglong.
• Cement Factory: A proposed factory on 9,000 bighas in Dima Hasao.

Land Acquisition and Eviction Threats

The party claimed that 1,116 families in Azara, Mirzapur, and Garal villages near Guwahati airport face eviction due to land acquisition for the Aerocity project. Notifications have been issued for 410 bighas, with a total of 3,220 bighas slated for transfer to the Adani Group. Raijor Dal noted that this marks the fifth attempt to acquire land in the area, fueling fears among villagers of losing their homes and livelihoods.

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How much land will be acquired in total?

• Mirzapur: 257 bighas, 91.5 lessas
• Azara: 83 bighas, 4 kathas, 15 lessas
• Garal: 70 bighas, 16 lessas

Criticized BJP Government

Bhasko De Saikia accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of “selling Assam’s land and resources” to serve Adani’s commercial interests, labeling the BJP government a “government of the rich.” He argued that these projects offer no guaranteed benefits for the Assamese people and undermine their foundation. Saikia emphasized that the rapid expansion of Adani’s business interests under the current regime prioritizes capitalists over local communities.

Raijor Dal vowed to continue protesting against what it described as the destructive acquisition of Assam’s land and resources. The party urged the public to remain vigilant and fight for their rights, asserting that such projects threaten the identity of the Assamese people.

Notably, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for the Advantage Assam 2.0 Aero City project, with an announcement of special subsidies for investors. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that the larger the investment, the greater the subsidies provided. In this context, Working President Bhasko De Saikia, alleged that the Chief Minister is not only giving away land to Adani in his own constituency at the expense of locals but also using public tax money for it. He further commented that these projects would bring no benefits to Assam, and the local people would not gain any employment opportunities from them.