Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary on Saturday said the non-tribal people who are original inhabitants of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area since before its formation in 2003 should not believe in rumours that they would be evicted from their land.

Coming down heavily on the claims of Kokrajhar MP, Naba Kumar Sarania, that non-tribals are being targeted by those in power, Daimary said “such rumour-mongering was only for the parliamentarian to garner political mileage” and the support of non-tribals by bringing in divisive politics.

Addressing a news conference at Tamulpur in Baksa district, Daimary said the Gauhati High Court order for eviction of non-tribals and other persons “not eligible to hold possession of land” in the tribal belts and blocks protected under Chapter X of Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1886 is in no way related to the government as the judiciary is an independent organ and only the court only uphold the “law of the land”.

“Tribal belts and blocks are not only for tribals. Both tribals and non-tribals who are original inhabitants of the area are entitled to possess land but the tribals get a privilege to buy and sell land and no one should believe the rumours by the vested circles,” he added.

“Targeting the forthcoming BTC council polls in the first quarter of this year, Sarania attempted to create a fear psychosis among the non-tribals just to garner support for his newly floated Gana Suraksha Party (GSP),” he alleged.

Daimary claimed that his party, the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), along with the support of its ally the BJP, was confident of victory in the council polls.

On the news that the autonomous territory and administrative powers of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) will be upgraded to that of a Union Territorial Council, Daimary said, “I am not aware of any such development but regarding the statehood demand, both the Centre and state have been jointly working to address the issue.”

He said as the BTAD falls under the Sixth Schedule area, it is exempt from the purview of the CAA. Hence, the polls will not be affected by the Act.

He said he was not against those protesting against the Act in a democratic manner.

With reference to Bodo being an official language and Assamese being an associate language, he said Assamese language is a protected language and Bodo, Assamese, English are all official languages for the BTAD.