CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Monday called upon tribal people to prepare for protracted struggles to safeguard their rights and privileges.
“Struggles have become inevitable,” she said and threatened to intensify agitation against GO Ms. No. 97 authorising the AP Mineral Development Corporation to mine bauxite ore from Sapparla and other blocks on the Andhra-Odisha border. “We will not allow others to lay their hands on natural resources over which only tribal people have the right come what may,” she declared.
Ms. Karat was addressing Girijana Garjana, a protest meeting organised by Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch at Araku, about 120 km from Visakhapatnam.
‘Naidu, Modi on
the same page’
She alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was on the same page with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in helping capitalists in snatching away forest wealth from Scheduled Areas in violation of the Samata judgement given by the Supreme Court, and Regulation 1/70, had no respect for tribal rights.
On arrival, Ms. Karat and tribal rights activist from Chhattisgarh Soni Sori and her adopted daughter Hiranmayee were greeted by Dhimsa dancers.
The CPI(M) leader, who who is also the vice-president of Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, said she was surprised to find that even at Pedalabudu panchayat adopted by Mr. Naidu, there were no basic amenities.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Naidu had promised to set up tribal university but even after completion of three years in office, no decision had been taken on locating it in tribal-dominated Visakhapatnam district.
Earlier, Ms. Sori narrated how she was assaulted by the police and security forces in Chhattisgarh for raising voice against infringement of tribal rights in Maoist-affected Bastar district.
Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch State general secretary P. Appalanarasa, AP Girijana Sangham leader Killo Surendra, and CPI (M) district secretary K. Loknadham were among those who took part in the rally.