Nagaon: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma On Wednesday, said that the state government will introduce several new bills in the next session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, which is expected to take place next month. These bills will deal with important social and cultural issues like “love jihad,” polygamy, and land rights for tea tribes.
Sarma called the proposed laws “important and historic” when he talked to media at an official ceremony in Nagaon. He said that the draft bills are being worked on right now and will be made public if the state cabinet approves them.
Sarma said, “In the next session of the Assam Assembly, we will introduce some important and historic bills on issues like ‘love jihad,’ polygamy, protecting Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries), and land rights for tea tribes.”
The Chief Minister didn’t go into detail about the new laws, saying that the administration will only give a full description when the cabinet approved them.
The government of Assam has been very clear about wanting to make polygamy illegal after an expert committee suggested it early this year. Sarma had also hinted at laws to stop “love jihad,” which is when people from different religions marry each other under false pretenses.
The inclusion of steps to protect Satras—the Vaishnavite monasteries that are very important to Assam’s cultural and spiritual identity—and land rights for tea tribes implies that the government is more focused on protecting indigenous heritage and giving power to marginalized groups.
A lot of politicians are likely to pay attention to this session because these proposed bills could have big effects on the law and society in Assam.