Latest news with #NCPNR
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JMM urges SC to declare SIR unconstitutional
Dharwad: The Janandolan Maha Maitri (JMM), a branch of National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), has criticised the Election Commission of India for taking up SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in Bihar and has termed it as an ill-advised move. Speaking to media in Dharwad JMM chief and anti-graft activist SR Hiremath urged the Supreme Court of India to declare SIR as unconstitutional and uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution. He stated that SIR violates Articles 14, 19, 21, 325, and 326 of the Constitution, as it contravenes the provisions of the Representation of the People's Act, 1950, and Rule 21A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. If SIR is not set aside by the SC, it can arbitrarily and without due process disenfranchise crores of voters (as much as 30 to 50% of the country) from electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and fair elections and democracy in the country, which are part of basic structure of the Constitution, Hiremath said. "This would be totally against the bold experiment of Universal Franchise pledged by our Founding Fathers, who enshrined it in Constitution will be negated. It is important to identify and expose the powers that be, who have made the ECI do this 'retrograde' and 'dangerous move' of the ECI," he added. Dropping land acquisition The JMM, Citizens for Democracy (CFD) and NCPNR fully support the satyagraha of the 13 villages of Channapattana Hobli (Devanahalli Taluka, Bengaluru Rural Dist) 'Bhoo Swadheena Virodhi Horata' and call upon the state govt and the chief minister, who when in the opposition, had promised that, if voted to power, they would cancel the acquisition proceedings of the KIADB to acquire 1,777 acres of fertile lands of the farmers in 13 villages. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo "Siddaramaiah reiterated his promise to the Samyukta Horata members during a meeting, that he would need additional time until July 15 to overcome legal hurdles and confirming the next meeting. The govt should quash the land acquisition process and protect the interests of the farmers by protecting their fertile lands", Hiremath demanded.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Cautious welcome to final notification on area around Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary
Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) and National Committee for Protection for Natural Resources (NCPNR) have extended a cautious welcome to the final notification declaring 423.7 sq km area as Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary. Now, they plan to hold in-depth discussion with all those concerned. Addressing presspersons in Hubballi on Saturday, founder-president of SPS and NCPNR S.R. Hiremath said that while they cautiously welcome the notification, they plan to hold in-depth discussion with all those concerned, including the seer of Gadag Tontdarya Mutt who successfully continues the movement initiated by his predecessor Sri Siddalinga Swami opposing mining and seeking protection to the unique eco system in Kappatagudda. The Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary is spread out over 244.15 sq km comprising four taluks of Gadag district. And, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the final notification on June 4, declaring 423.7 sq km area around the sanctuary as Eco Sensitive Zone. Mr. Hiremath said that they plan to call for a meeting about the notification and also discuss the need to pressurise the Karnataka government to drop the 18 mining proposals. Earlier, the State government put off (not dropped) the decision on these proposals. The meeting will also deliberate the sustained decade-long people's movement led by the Tontadarya Mutt and various organisations, including SPS and NCPNR, he said. He said that as the government is expected to prepare the zonal master plan in consultation with local communities, various departments and other stakeholders, the proposed meeting will also deliberate the related issues so that the mining proposals are cancelled permanently. Book release Mr. Hiremath, meanwhile, said that during the Emergency, the Indian diaspora in the United States resisted Indira Gandhi's authoritarian rule and many who believed in Gandhian values came together to save India's democracy. A book, The Conscience Network: A chronicle of resistance to a dictatorship, by Sugata Srinivasraju, which records these efforts, will be released in Bengaluru on July 4, he added.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Confiscate Reddy's ‘ill-gotten' money, says Hiremath
Terming the seven-year sentence awarded to mining baron and former Minister Janardhan Reddy as historic, founder-president of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) S.R. Hiremath has urged both the Central and State governments to immediately take all steps to confiscate what he claimed Mr. Reddy's 'ill-gotten' money 'stashed' in India and abroad. Addressing presspersons in Hubballi on Monday, Mr. Hiremath said that the SPS and like-minded organisations are committed to continuing the legal battle to take the case to its logical conclusion. Mr. Hiremath said that while Principal Special Judge for CBI cases T. Raghu Ram delivered a historic judgement indicting Mr. Reddy and three others, including a former bureaucrat, and sentencing them to seven-year imprisonment in the Obulapuram Mining Company Private Ltd. (OMCPL) case, there are still 14 other criminal cases pertaining to illegal mining under trial. Mr. Hiremath said that the judgement had revealed the sordid story of collusion between the mining mafia and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Meanwhile, because of large-scale plundering of natural resources the people in the mining areas had to suffer, while the reports of the Karnataka Lokayukta and CEC are yet to be implemented by the governments, he said. He said that the judgement had come as a ray of hope for those fighting injustice especially by the mighty. The SPS and like-minded organisations will urge the governments to confiscate 'ill-gotten' money and utilise it for healing the wounds inflicted on nature and also on the people of the region. 'Extending support' Mr. Hiremath said that the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) will support the ongoing struggle of the Jenu Kuruba and Adivasi women, men and children from Nagarahole National Park Area asserting their claims of Individual Forest Rights (IFR), Community Forest Rights (CFR) and Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006. The NCPNR will urge the government to withdraw all forces, including the Forest Department, the State Police and the Karnataka State Tiger Protection Forces (STPF) which are currently forcibly trying to drive them out from their ancestral villages, including Karadikallu Hattur Kollehaadi from inside the Nagarahole forest, he said.
