THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 23: Notwithstanding Kerala Revenue Minister K E Ismail's brave words to the contrary, Presidential assent for the State's controversial Tribal Land Bill is a long way away. More than the technical objections which the Centre has raised, it is the CPM reservation on legislation which is posing the biggest hurdle.

A high-level meeting held in Delhi to discuss the issue failed to break new ground, it is learnt. Insiders say that while Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta was inclined towards the smooth passage of the Bill, the Union Welfare Ministry, headed by B S Ramoowalia who is a champion of the SC/ST cause and CPM boss Harkishen Singh Surjeet's nominee in the Cabinet, was apprehensive about a few provisions in the Bill.

It may be recalled that the CPM, which had favoured the Bill in the Assembly, took offense to a few clauses incorporated in the legislation, mainly the cut-off date for legalising the transactions. With party bigwigs making their displeasure clear, a cat-and-mouse game on the issue involving the CPM and the CPI began. With all the political pressure failing to provide the desired result, it was reportedly a frustrated Ismail who emerged from the meeting.

At the meeting, held in the wake of the High Court asking the Centre to take a decision on the Bill by May 25, it was decided to seek another three months' time to decide on the issue.

Although the court direction was to the Centre, it is learnt that the State too would try to buy more time. The minutes of the meeting held in Delhi, which reached the Chief Secretary's office on Thursday, has been dispatched to the Advocate-General's office.

According to sources, at least a few at the Centre believed that the lone voice of dissent to the legislation was that of the only tribal member in the Assembly. The State delegation did succeed in clarifying that K R Gowri - the only MLA who opposed the Bill by abstaining from voting - was not a tribal. However, it could not convince the Centre that the Bill had the blessings of majority of the tribal outfits.

``Most of the representations which the Centre had received with regard to the Bill were against it. The State would have to seek fresh ways to prove that the legislation has the support of most, said a source close to the Revenue Minister.

Apparently not satisfied with the State Government's contention that opposition to the Bill is minimal, the Centre has sought the minutes of the meetings with nearly 40 tribal outfits which had been held prior to the passing of the Bill. The Centre has also decided to hold another round of discussions with the State on the issue soon. After moving the court seeking more time, the State Government will have to again hold talks with leaders of tribal outfits.

It has reportedly been directed to find out a way by which the detractors can be brought around. According to sources, it was pointed out by a few officers at the Centre that the problem of restoring tribal land was not unique to the State. One point of view was that if Kerala's amendment is given the nod, other States would grab the opportunity and amend their original Act, the chief objective of which was giving back the tribals their lost land.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.