CPI(M) polit bureau member Brinda Karat lambasted both the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and the TRS government in Telangana for allegedly trying to snatch away the legal, moral and historical rights of tribal communities over forest land.
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Chandrasekhar Rao government here were bent on evicting tribal people from their natural habitat, infringing upon the rights of tribal communities under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), in the name of afforestation, she charged. She was speaking at ‘Maha Dharna’ held under the aegis of CPI(M) district committee in front of the Collectorate here on Wednesday. Earlier, scores of tribal people, mainly comprising women ‘podu’ farmers, land oustees of various irrigation and coalmine projects, took out a huge rally in the town to press for a charter of demands.
CPI(M) State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, Bhadrachalam MLA Sunnam Rajaiah and others took part in the rally. Their main demands include grant of pattas for ‘podu’ lands as per the provisions of the FRA, sanction of bank loans to ‘podu’ farmers, scrapping of GO 123 and provision of statutory compensation to land oustees under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. Addressing a large gathering at Dharna Chowk, Ms. Brinda Karat said, “KCR wants to be friends with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
