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New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Activist Medha Patkar stopped at Odisha's Rayagada station on way to anti-mining meet
BHAWANIPATNA/BERHAMPUR: Activist Medha Patkar was on Thursday stopped at Raygada railway station by police and not allowed to proceed to attend a meeting at Singer where she was scheduled to attend a meeting organised by anti-mining protesters. She along with farmer leader Lingaraj and tribal rights activist Narendra Mohanty later left for Berhampur with police escorts. The activist was supposed to attend a meeting at Sunger Haat organised by Ma Mati Mali Surakshya Manch of Thuamul-Rampur on the day. The manch has been opposed to bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri region. On Wednesday, the Rayagada collector Parul Patwari had issued an order basing on the report of the superintendent of police (SP) that an anti-mining dharna at Sunger could lead to law and order situation. When Patkar sought to know why she and her associates were stopped, police presented the order of the collector which prohibited 24 persons from entering or remaining present in Rayagada for a period of two months and taking part in any form of protest. En route to Berhampur, Patkar said over phone it was unjust and unconstitutional on part of the administration to bar them from joining the tribals for the World Environment Day celebration. 'We were not going to protest against anybody or create disturbance. We should listen to different opinions. Why is there PESA Act and Fifth Schedule of Constitution then?,' she asked.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Medha Patkar ‘stopped' from attending Rayagada meeting
Koraput: Environmentalist Medha Patkar (71) was allegedly detained by police at Rayagada railway station on Thursday morning over fears of law and order disruption, shortly after she arrived in Rayagada district. She was supposed to attend a public meeting at Hatpada field in Sunger under Kashipur block in protest against proposed mining activities at Sijimali bauxite mines. "We had inputs that her presence could trigger law and order problems as there were groups opposing her en route to Kashipur. She was requested not to proceed to the meeting and she left the town without any untoward incident being reported," said KKBK Kanhar, IIC of Rayagada police station. The meeting, organised by local outfit "Maa Mati Mali Surakhya Mancha" on World Environment Day , was aimed at raising awareness about environment degradation and tribal rights. According to Patkar, the authorities showed her an order issued by the Rayagada district administration listing over 25 people, including her, who were barred from entering the area. "I was stopped from participating in the meeting by the police. They showed us an order claiming that we had come to incite people. But my objective was to create awareness about the PESA Act and other tribal rights issues," said Patkar.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why RSS invite to ex-Congress leader Arvind Netam stirred Chhattisgarh politics
Veteran tribal leader Arvind Netam, who served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Indira Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao, has raised eyebrows in Chhattisgarh's political circles after he got an invitation from the RSS to be the chief guest of an 83, a former Congressman, will not only share the stage with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the organisation's volunteer training camp, Karyakarta Vikas Varg-Dwithiya Samapan Samaroh, he will also speak at the closing ceremony, where he will highlight a host of significant tribal is hosting this event as it marks the end of the three-year training period for swayamsevaks. It's a deja vu for the Congress as late former President Pranab Mukherjee was also invited to the same event by the RSS in 2018, which was criticised by the party. Speaking to India Today TV, Netam said he was surprised to get an invitation from the RSS."I am surprised that RSS has invited me to a part of such a crucial event. But, I'm going to use this opportunity to highlight a bunch of tribal issues, as the RSS is a guiding force to the BJP and the party is in power in Chhattisgarh. Currently, despite having a tribal chief minister at the helm, there is a huge communication gap between the tribals and the government," he factions manage to work remotely in the tribal regions in the state. Though I'm not politically active currently, I'll raise the issues efficiently as I feel that to get the BJP's attention. This is the best I can do," he on the issues that he would be underlining, Netam said, "Religious conversion is the most important issue that I'm going to raise. It is rampantly taking place and needs immediate attention by the government. Unfortunately, my own community is sleeping over it and I'm going to seek the RSS's help as they keep consistently working on it across the nation.""Apart from that, industrialisation is also an important issue which the state government is not serious about and doesn't have the political will to resolve. Only the RSS can do something about it. It's dangerous how the PESA Act is being taken as a joke in the country, without consulting the tribals. Their lands are being given to industrialists. Only communication with the villagers can resolve this complex issue. For that, the central government must be on board which the RSS can only convey," he exited the Congress in 2023 after floating his own tribal front named Hamar Raj Party, which managed to dent the Congress's vote shares in a couple of assembly and parliamentary seats. However, the party said that if Netam joins the BJP, it will not hurt the grand old is certainly a huge tribal leader. But, tribal people are aware of the RSS's intentions. Netam will lose ground in Bastar if he joins the BJP," Congress spokesperson Sushil Shukla the other hand, the BJP feels that the RSS doesn't discriminate among people and believes in working for the welfare of the senior political analyst Sunil Kumar opined that the "Congress was not investing enough time on finding real issues and converting a non-issue into politics"."It is unfair on Netam that the Congress is attacking him despite Netam having no association with the party. The party shouldn't forget that Netam was also a part of the BJP. So, I consider this as a good move as one may be ideologically on different pages with the RSS. The robust organisation has lakhs of active members and it keeps working closely through their various frontal factions across the nation. He (Netam) will escalate various tribal issues efficiently," he Watch IN THIS STORY#Chhattisgarh#Indian National Congress#Bharatiya Janta Party
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Mutual understanding among political class should continue: RSS chief
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the mutual understanding shown by the political class following the Pahalgam terror attack and action taken by India later should continue and become a permanent feature. The society also gave a message of unity, Bhagwat said, addressing the concluding event of the Karyakarta Vikas Varg for RSS volunteers. After the heinous terror attack, people were sad and angry and wanted the culprits to be punished. Action was taken and punishment was meted out, Bhagwat said. Everyone saw the grit of our country's decision makers in the action taken after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said. Action was taken after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. The valour of our army shone once again in it. The firmness of the administration was also seen. The political class also showed mutual understanding. The society also gave the message of its unity. This should remain continue and be a permanent feature, he said. India should be self-dependent in matters of our security, he said. Without naming Pakistan, Bhagwat said, Those who can't win a direct fight with India want to bleed our country by the policy of a thousand cuts and waging proxy war. Tribal leader Arvind Netam, who served in the cabinets of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's volunteer training camp. The 25-day training camp, Karyakarta Vikas Varg Dwitiya, in which 840 volunteers from across the country participated, began on May 12 at Dr Hedgewar Smriti Mandir located in Reshimbag area of Nagpur. Netam, who hails from Chhattisgarh, said no state government has so far taken the issue of religious conversions seriously. I think RSS is the only institution which can help us in this area, he said. The RSS should pressure Central government to come out with an action plan after Naxalism ends, to ensure that the menace does not revive, he said. Netam said no government implemented the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. The Central government is mum and even helping the industrialists, he added. The PESA Act aims to ensure self-governance in tribal areas through Gram Sabhas, empowering them to manage resources and make decisions related to their communities.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tribal outfits observing Jharkhand bandh over ramp construction near sacred site in Ranchi
Ranchi, Various organisations are observing a Jharkhand bandh on Wednesday to protest against the construction of a ramp, part of a flyover, near Sarna Sthal, a sacred tribal religious site in Ranchi, police said. Protesters blocked the Ranchi-Daltonganj Road near Biju Para this morning and staged a demonstration as part of the bandh. Elaborate security arrangements have been made across Jharkhand, especially in the capital Ranchi, police said. Several organisations took out a torchlight procession here on Tuesday evening, demanding the immediate dismantling of the newly constructed ramp in Siram Toli, claiming that the structure obstructs access to their religious site and could impact its sanctity due to traffic movements. Their other demands include the protection of religious sites of the ST community in the state, implementation of the PESA Act and removal of encroachment on tribal land. The construction of the 2.34-km-long elevated road, which includes a 132-metre stretch over a railway line, will connect Siram Toli to Mecon and is aimed at easing traffic movement in the area. Tribal men and women gathered at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium here and took out the procession on June 3, alleging that the government was ignoring their concerns and sentiments. They argued that the ramp would disrupt access to the site when thousands gather during religious festivals like Sarhul. The administration has urged protestors not to disrupt normal traffic. The ₹340-crore elevated road project was launched in August 2022. Earlier on March 22, an 18-hour Ranchi bandh was called, impacting normal life in the capital. During the bandh in March, agitators entered into scuffles with the police in various parts of the city, including in Hinoo and Argora areas, while roads in Harmu, Kanke, Hinoo, Kokar-Lalpur, Kantatoli and other localities were blocked by them with makeshift bamboo barricades. The Ranchi-Lohardaga Road was also blocked near Titla Chowk in Ranchi, and the public transportation was severely affected, with city buses and motorised and battery-operated auto-rickshaws not plying on the roads. Mobile app-based taxi services were also scarce, leaving passengers in a lurch. Travellers had also faced inconvenience, as limited transport options made it difficult for them to reach railway stations or the airport here.
