Jagat Negi failed to resolve Nautod issue: Surat Negi
Despite being the Tribal Minister, Jagat Singh Negi failed in protecting tribal interests, now he is attacking constitutional posts.
Shimla: Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Surat Negi has described Tribal Minister Jagat Singh Negi’s statement against the Governor as unfortunate and an insult to constitutional institutions. BJP spokesperson Surat Negi said that Minister Negi’s attitude not only undermines the dignity of a constitutional post, but also exposes his political arrogance and administrative failure.
BJP spokesperson Surat Negi clearly said that the way Minister Jagat Singh Negi is continuously giving misleading statements on the sensitive issue like Nautod related to tribal areas, it is clear that he is targeting the constitutional post of Governor to hide the failures of his government.
Surat Negi said that the issue of Nautod is not new, but has been under discussion for the last 20-25 years. In 2006, when the Congress government was in power in the state and Jagat Singh Negi himself was an MLA, a resolution was passed at a meeting of the Tribal Advisory Committee that Nautod land would only be given to “landless” people. The 1975 Act clearly defined landlessness, and this condition was implemented based on that basis.
BJP spokesperson Surat Negi alleged that the Congress government misled the public in 2014. At that time, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, was partially suspended, but the “landless” requirement imposed in 2006 was not lifted. As a result, no one could actually benefit from the Nautod. Surat Negi said this was a complete betrayal of the tribal areas.
He said that when the BJP government under the leadership of Jairam Thakur came to power in 2017, the entire matter was thoroughly studied. The BJP government found a way to remove the 2006 condition so that people in tribal areas could truly benefit from the Nautod. However, an immediate decision was not possible at that time due to the Forest Conservation Act case pending in the Supreme Court.
Surat Negi also clarified that while the Governor has been granted certain special powers under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, suspending a central law is not as simple as Minister Negi is trying to convey to the public. Land cannot be given to anyone without following legal procedures and regulations.
BJP spokesperson Surat Negi said that despite being the Tribal Minister today, Jagat Singh Negi has completely failed to protect the interests of his region and the entire tribal community. During the BJP government’s Tribal Sub-Plan, a budget of approximately ₹400 crore was allocated for the three tribal assembly constituencies, but the current Congress government has reduced it to approximately ₹150 crore. This clearly shows who is truly pursuing the anti-tribal policy.
He also alleged that the process of granting land rights to tribal people under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) has been extremely slow under the current government. While initiatives in this direction began during the BJP government, a large number of pending cases remain unresolved even three years later.
Surat Negi concluded by saying that Minister Negi should exercise restraint in his behavior and language. Making such statements against any constitutional officeholder, especially the Governor, is not only against democratic traditions but also overshadows the real issues of tribal areas.
Surat Negi said that if Minister Negi is really a well-wisher of the tribal society, then he should stop making statements and establish dialogue with the Central Government and the Governor, so that concrete solutions can be found on important issues like Nautod, Forest Rights and Vibrant Village Scheme.
BJP clarified that the party has always been committed to the development and protection of rights of tribal areas and will continue to raise these issues strongly in the future also.
