Gujarat Assembly passes Bill to curb illegal property transfers amid debate on demographic shift

GANDHINAGAR: (Mar 26) After a heated debate over demographic shift and safeguard for a particular community, the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday passed an amendment Bill to a 1991 Act that aims to curb illegal property transfers and strengthen safeguards for lawful owners.

The Bill to amend the Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in the Disturbed Areas Act, 1991, was passed through a voice vote on the last day of the budget session.

Pitching the Bill as a necessary safeguard for a particular community, Minister of State for Revenue Sanjaysinh Mahida, who introduced the legislation, invoked historical attacks on Sanatan Dharma and warned against forced migration driven by "Land Jihad" and "Love Jihad".