Statement of Concern on Defamation of Adivasi Struggle Groups
Type: Press Release | Published Date: 04 May 2017Statement of Concern
on
Defamation of adivasi struggle groups like Odisha’s Niyamgiri Suraksha
Samiti and Jharkhand's Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan by Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA)
Taking cognisance of the factutally incorrect mention of Odisha’s
Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS) and Jharkhand's Visthapan Virodhi Jan
Vikas Andolan (VVJVA) as being linked with with ‘Maoist’ organization,
a banned organisation in Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),
Government of India in its 372 page long 2016-17 Annual Report;
We reject the following observation in the 2016-17 Annual Report,
Ministry of Home Affairs wherein it reads: "In 2016, the issue of
displacement of local communities remained the main plank of
mobilization by the mass organisations. In Niyamgiri Hills area
(Districts Rayagada and Kalahandi, Odisha), the outfit continued to
guide the activities of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti. Similarly in
Jharkhand the Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan a front of the CPI
(Maoist), tried to take up pro-tribal issues and opposed amendments to
the Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts, modifications in
Domicile Policy etc. Maoist affiliates also undertook protest
programmes and resorted to anti-Government propaganda over alleged
atrocities by Security Forces";
We are disturbed to note that the Ministry is making an unfounded
connection between a banned organisations and a peoples’ rights
struggle...
[Please see full statement in the downloadable file]
Posted on: 06 May 2017