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The Invincible Flame of Narayanpatna: An Interview with Dandapani Mohanty November 18, 2012

[Amitabha Kar interviews Dandapani Mohanty about the genesis of Chashi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS), the oppressive conditions that the adivasis and CMAS members have had to face,what the movement has achieved so far and its agenda, CMAS’ differences with CPI (ML) – Kanu Sanyal, and CMAS’ decision to participate in panchayat elections.
– Editors, http://laalnishan2012.blogspot.in
]
[Shree Danda Pani Mohanty one of the interlocutors played a crucial role to solve the recent hostage crises arisen from the abduction of two Italians and one MLA from Laxmipur – Mr. Jhina Hikaka. Here is the excerpt from the conversation held on 3rd June’2012 between Shree Mohanty (DPM) and Shree Amitabha Kar (AK).]
AK: The abduction of two Italians and one MLA in two separate incidents had brought Narayanpatna’s adivasi movement led by Chashi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS ) to the fore in the national arena. Would you please explain first the salient features of this movement?
DPM: Recently a fact finding team of DSU (Democratic Student Union) comprising from the students of Delhi University, Jawahar Lal University and IGNOU published a report in a booklet “The Flames of Narayanpatna” after visiting the area from 11th April 2011 to 16th April 2011. Please allow me to quote the following passage for your query.

“This movement has been variously described as an anti-liquor movement, a struggle for land, a tribal movement and so on…. Though the movement includes all the above mentioned aspects, its aims are no less than a revolutionary transformation of the social relations and establishment of peoples’ political power”. (1)

This struggle started against the liquor manufacturers and traders and then it continued to reclaim what was lost by the tribal people over the years. So basically the land question and landlessness thus came to the fore. So again in the course of this struggle, the people of Narayanpatna and surrounding region of Koraput have to oppose the incursion of big mining corporations. Thus the struggle of the people of Narayanpatna and its adjacent areas is ushering a new era of anti-feudal, anti-imperialist struggle to fulfill the long cherished dream of Indian revolutionary people – the task of a democratic revolution. Against the brutal repression of state machinery and its local agents, this struggle has been forced to take the shape of armed agrarian revolution. In the specificities of India’s soil that “not only reclaim what is already lost or to defend what is in danger of being lost but seek to establish what is aspired for.”(1)
AK: Now please briefly narrate the genesis and growth of the struggle of the people of Narayanpatna and its adjacent areas under the leadership of CMAS.
DPM: In 1968, when armed struggle started in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh, the scared non-tribal landlords and businessmen had migrated to undivided Koraput District. After settling down here, they began to exploit the local toiling masses – mainly the adivasis and dalits at will. The non-tribal and coastal people of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha also joined hands with them. They were united to encroach upon the lands belonging to the tribal people and acquired those in various types of fraudulent manners. They engaged the tribal people on their own land as bonded labourers. In the process of exploitation they gained political supremacy over the poor. According to the “Regulation 2 of 1956” also known as “The Orissa Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property Regulation”, non-tribals cannot acquire tribal lands. But this law has not been strictly implemented. In this context the CMAS was formed and primarily associated with the CPI(ML)- Kanu Sanyal group. It has been working among the tribal toiling masses since last 15/16 years. After the temporary setback of armed struggle in Andhra Pradesh in the 70’s, some youths and students had shifted their base from Srikakulam to undivided Koraput District and its adjacent areas to start their political activities among the local tribal masses.
In 1999, when the tribal people launched agitation for implementing “Regulation 2 of 1956” to get back their lost land under the leadership of CMAS in Gajapati and PSP in Kashipur, the Government forces shot dead eighteen people in Mandrabaju of Gajapati District and three people in Kashipur.
The exploitation of the tribal people has been compounded by several manifolds with the consumption of liquor. Traditionally the adivasis widely use the home made liquor and toddy collected from palm trees. It is an indispensable ingredient in all tribal festivals and ceremonies. It is an ingredient to be sacrificed to their ancestral spirit and supernatural power on holy occasions. But the need for regular excise liquor consumption led to the fast depletion of the earning of adivasi families. Continued consumption of liquor on credit as well as loans for other purposes coupled with a cumulative rate of high interest make it almost impossible to repay the debt or loan – thus transforming them into bonded labourers. So you can consider the excise liquor as one of the main weapons of the landlords-shahukars- moneylenders-traders’ nexus. The government is also hand in glove with this nexus and liberally issued licenses to legally promote this business. As a result, a network of liquor shops and distilleries were operating in every panchayat area.
So in this concrete situation prevailing in Koraput area, the CMAS naturally adopted its first programme against this liquor trade and demanded the government should cancel all the licenses of the liquor producers and traders. The peasants of Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon first resisted this trade under the banner of CMAS. There was a general boycott of liquor and its vendors. The people not only drove away them from their villages, but mobilised themselves also in thousands to pursue those traders in their stronghold – the town. In January 2009 four thousand people went to Narayanpatna town and destroyed liquor factories and shops selling country liquor as well as foreign liquor shops. Also in January 2009, more than three thousand members of CMAS destroyed the shops at Bandhugaon town.
It is this Narayanpatna struggle against the liquor consumption and trade that not only rejuvenated the consciousness of collectivity among the adivasi masses who were weakened and disintegrated by external pressures, but also bolstered the need to unite other oppressed groups such as dalits on class basis.
The CMAS, after its initial success, had intensified and broadened the scope and transformed the anti-liquor struggle into a full-fledged anti-feudal revolutionary struggle. Because the struggle against liquor is inseparable from the question of land alienation and landlessness among the adivasis. This is the another crucial factor that has contributed to the phenomenal success and popularity of CMAS.
The Narayanpatna CMAS initiated and led the struggle for reclamation of agricultural land that was tricked out from the adivasis by the nexus of sundi-sahukar-money lenders-liquor trades. Till date the peasant masses of Narayanpatna under the leadership of CMAS reclaimed about 5000 (five thousand) acre of land. The struggle intensified due to the violent opposition put up by the landlords with the help of the state machinery. They constituted an armed vigilant group ‘Shanti Committee’ (Peace Committee) that held demonstrations demanding the ban of CMAS and the arrest of its leaders including its President Nachika Linga. They also demanded the land retrieved from them by the adivasis. This ‘Shanti Committee’ with the help of government forces has been going on rampage, destroying houses, damaging, destroying and looting the belongings and crops of the adivasis and leaders of CMAS. The CMAS with the help of the masses has been retaliating and repulsing those attacks. On 20th November 2009, while leading the adivasis to protest against police atrocities in front of Narayanpatna police station, comrade Andru and comrade Singhana were murdered by the police.
The Odisha Government being worried that the movement might spread to the other region of the district, clandestinely help the local reactionaries With arms to form “Nagaric Suraksha Committee” (NSS) that took over the same task perpetrated by the “Shanti Committee” in Narayanpatna. The Government intensified the attack by deploying paramilitary force. Combing operations, arrests, destruction of homes, properties, live stocks, grains, tortures, beatings, intimidation have been regular events. One of the most common excuses of doing so is the allegiance and association of adivasis to the CPI (Maoists).
Till date 270 activists of CMAS have been arrested by the administration, 200 have been acquitted or have gotten bail from the court, 70 others are still languishing in jail. Nearly 1000 people including myself have been implicated on various charges. Nachika Linga, an exploited Kui Adivasi and the President of CMAS had been put behind bars in 2006. He was acquitted by the court from all the charges slapped against him and released after one and half years. Now he is absconding for fear of being rearrested for 50 new cases charged against him.
AK: What are the CMAS’s main agenda items now?
DPM: 
(i) Ban on alcohol trade.
(ii) Abolition of bonded labour practice.
(iii) Right of adivashi people on their native land: 95% land that has been occupied by non-adivasi outsiders must be returned to the tribal people. In this respect CMAS demands the proper implementation of 1956 Regulation (II) Land Reform Act. It also demands the repeal of the right of non-tribal people to own the land in the 5th Schedule Areas (i.e. in tribal areas). It also demands to introduce a new law on the basis of Andhra Pradesh 1/70 Land reform Act that was introduced after the Srikakulam armed struggle and Madhya Pradesh Land Reform Act where land in Scheduled Areas cannot be alienated to the non tribal people. The CMAS wants to highlight a landmark judgment issued by Supreme Court in 1997 that is called “Samta Judgement”. In this judgement the SC had banned transfer of land and mining lease and license to the non tribal people in the 5th Scheduled Areas.
(iv) Stop state repression and arrest of common villagers implicating them as Maoists.
(v) Judicial enquiries of police firing near Narayanpatna Police Station in 20th November’2009 where two young protesters were killed. (Com Singan & Andru)
(vi) Withdrawal of all police camps from Narayanpatna Block.
(vii) Those 70 activists who are still being languished in jails must be unconditionally freed.
(viii) Withdraw all the false charges against 1000 people.
AK: Now tell me something about the process of utilization of land that have been acquired by the adivasis under the leadership of CMAS.
DPM: So far in Narayanpatna area 5000 acres of land have been seized from the landlords. These lands have been distributed to the villagers through village committees who are encouraging to organize themselves for collective cultivation on those seized lands.
The gains achieved in the land struggle by the poor and landless people – both adivasis and dalits, under the leadership CMAS are significant. Apart from organizing themselves for collective farming, the people have collectively undertaken development works with their own initiatives. In spite of severe state repression , the villagers has completed seven big irrigation projects in the last two years and three are under construction.
In the process of land acquisition and land distribution movement, an embryonic shape of peoples’ power is gradually emerging by replacing the repressive state power in the form of “revolutionary Peoples Committee” (RPC) that cover some areas in Narayanpatna.
For the first time these oppressed but proud villagers utter with extreme confidence, “We no longer go to the government and beg for aids or its schemes, instead we will depend on our own strength to struggle and survive. We will carry out our own development works in a self sufficient manner through our own collective efforts.”

Apart from digging several canals with their own effort and initiative, the villagers with the help of RPC are trying to create their own educational and health care system. One school is being run by the RPC for seven villages. As there is scarcity of literate person in the area, efforts are on to get the teachers from outside. Young boys and girls are being trained in basic health care to work as barefoot doctors.
AK: Women are said to hold up half the sky. Will you tell something about the roll and contribution of the womenfolk in this movement?
DPM: Like Singur-Nandigram-Jangalmahal, here also women have set an example by keeping themselves in the forefront of the struggle. By using traditional weapons and homemade chili powder they have courageously fought and withstood the onslaught of the state force to save their male comrades. They were also in the forefront in the anti-liquor movement. When all the male members , the CMAS leaders are forced to go in hiding, the remaining children, women are taking up agricultural activities.
AK: Tell me something about the leadership roll of CMAS in Narayanpatna.
DPM: The peoples struggle creates its own leadership, again this leadership pushes forward the struggle – thus elevating it on a higher level. This is a dialectical relationship. The tribal people of Narayanpatna area were attracted towards the activities of the CMAS formed in 1996 in their area under the leadership of CPI(ML) Kanu Sanyal group.
But with the sharpening of struggle since 2009, the ideological and political struggle became intensified between CMAS- Narayanpatna group and rest of the leadership of CPI(ML)-Kanu Sanyal group who was trying to confine itself within the limit of peaceful legal forms and appeals to the governmental administration. Moreover they decided to take part in the 2009 Assembly election that was strongly opposed by CMAS-Narayanpatna group. They called for “Boycott Election” in some panchayats of Narayanpatna and adjacent Lakshmipur and Bandhugaon Blocks. The boycott call is very much successful in this block, and in some villages the boycott was total.
AK: CMAS had participated in the last Panchayat election in 2011. What compulsion did it force to change the decision from “Boycott Election” stand in 2009 to direct participation in Panchayat Election?
DPM: CMAS in Narayanpatna Block had participated in the Panchayat election against the backdrop of some specific conditions prevailing in the rural area. To expose the states so-called development and its repressions, the CMAS-Narayanpatna block had decided to participate in the Panchyat election. It had placed its candidates in 9 Panchayat seats where 6 candidates won uncontested and remaining 3 won after contest. One Zilla Parishad (ZP) candidate – a tribal lady named Juva Mauka was languished in jail for two years and won uncontested after her release.
In the Zilla Parishad both Navin Pattanayak’s BJD and Congress won 14 seats each. The remaining one seat went to CMAS. So both of them approached the CMAS to seek its loan candidate’s support to form the ZP. The CMAS had placed its 10 points ‘Charter of Demand’ to be fulfilled as a quid pro quo for the support. The congress backtracked. But all the 14 ZP members, three MLAs and one MP of BJD from Koraput District accepted this ‘Charter of Demands’ and it had been placed in writing before the CM Mr. Navin Pattanayak. Based on this signed agreement, the CMAS supported the BJD to form Zilla Parishad.
AK: What is the view of CMAS on Assembly or Parliamentary elections now? Will they take part in those elections?
DPM: No, till now its stand is not to take part in Assembly or Parliamentary election, fight against the anti-people policies of Congress-BJP-BJD nexus.
AK: Does BJD government show any initiative to fulfill the agreement?
DPM: No, nearly seven months have elapsed, there is no sign of any desire to abide by its pledge. The intimidation, repression by the government force is unabated. Sometime back I have had a phone call informing me that security forces had entered a village in Narayanpatna Block. The CMAS will wait for some more time and then it will decide whether to withdraw its support from the ZP.
AK: By participating in Panchyat Election how does the CMAS-Narayanpatna Group differentiate itself from the CPI(ML) Kanu Sanyal Group?
DPM: The difference is the attitude towards the class struggle against the feudal and comprador- bureaucrat- bourgeois classes. Till date what the tribal and other oppressed masses has gained is because of their uncompromising attitude of being on the path of militant class struggle under the leadership of CMAS. Their firm resolution of not to deviate from this path despite participating in the Panchayat Election makes all the difference. Till date its leadership and cadres are facing various false cases and charges. Its President Nachika Linga apprehending re-arrest had gone into hiding. Gananath Patra, an ailing veteran septuagenarian leader has been languishing in jail for more than two years. The attack on the people and leadership of CMAS-Narayanptna by the Government forces and Shanti Committees are unabated. Why? Because this leadership is leading the oppressed people of this area to crush the chain of oppression and to establish real peoples political power. Participating in the election is not the only but one of the various forms of struggle including armed struggle to achieve this goal. On the other hand the CPI(ML)-Kanu Sanyal Group considers the Parliamentary path as the only form of struggle. From the very beginning they have been advocating for peaceful solution like demonstrations, appeals to the administration etc. In this process they have been degenerated to become the stooge of the reactionary ruling landlord classes. Take the example of the Rythu Coolie Sangham (RCS) of Andhra Pradesh which is affiliated to the CPI(ML)-Kanu Sanyal Group. The members of RCS in collusion of the Andhra Pradesh police used to enter illegally in the bordering villages of Narayanpatna Block, burned the houses and indiscriminately arrest people. Their leaders are hobnobbing with the corrupt Government officials and landlords. They used to take money from landlords and promise them that they would not allow peasants with CMAS to acquire land.
The people under the leadership of CMAS-Narayanpatna Block will never give up whatever they have achieved through protracted struggle – the land, the political power, the honour. If someone thinks that by participating in Panchayat Election the CMAS-Narayanpatna Block will give up the path of revolutionary struggle that is the main form of struggle to achieve their goal, he is living in fool’s paradise.
AK: you were selected by the CPI(Maoist) as an interlocutor in the recent hostage crises. Do you think that it is justified for a peoples’ party like CPI(Maoist) to kidnap some bureaucrats, politicians, even common people like foreigners to fulfill its demands? Then how does it differentiate itself from a terrorist organization in this particular issue? Does it not undermine the very cause which they are fighting for?
DPM: One politburo member of the CPI(Maoist) issued a statement after the arrest (kidnap) of Mr. Vinil Krishna, District Collector in 2011 stating that when all other avenues to protect the rights of the people, to express their views against state repression had been choked, the arrest of bureaucrats, political leaders is one of the few options left to highlight the demands of the people. It should not be called as abduction or kidnapping as done by the terrorist groups for ransom or release of their members. It should be viewed as “Arrest”. On the contrary it is the state that has been indiscriminately abducting and killing the people violating its own constitution and laws. In this sense this state machinery is actually practising terrorism.
You should notice that after those arrests, the CPI(Maoist) has raised some political and economical issues including the demand of releasing the people abducted by the state. Most of the people whose release is being sought are common adivasis having no link with Maoists and are being languished in jail year after year without any trial.
On the issue of undermining the cause which the CPI(Maoist) is fighting for, your very first question is the best answer of it. You have admitted that the ‘abductions’ of the Italians and the MLA Jhina Hikaka has brought the Narayanpatna movement to the fore in national level. Without these ‘arrests’, would you have been interested about the heroic struggle of Narayanpatna’s adivasi people? After the arrest of the MLA Jhina Hikaka, there were six big rallies in Narayanpatna in one month. The police remained in their camps and thousands of people with their demands participated in those rallies, meetings to expose the state repression and the state’s so called development. In this sense these arrests should viewed as propaganda work. After the release of Hikaka, the police and force have again started the operation against the people and conducting of any further meeting or rally become most difficult. (2)
AK: In their article “The Glorious People’s Struggle of Narayanpatna” the DSU fact finding team after visiting the area from 11th to 16th April’ 2011 elaborately described how the people had actively boycotted the Parliamentary election in 2009. But when updating the movement as on late February 2012 in the chapter “The Unceasing Wave of Narayanpatna Struggle – An Update”, they did not mention anything about the CMAS-Narayanpatna group’s decision to participate in Panchayat Election or to support the BJD in Zilla Parisad. How do you interpret this conspicuous silence? Can it be interpreted as their difference on the issue of CMAS- Narayanpatna group’s decision of participating in the Panchayet Election? Your comment please.
DPM: The DSU fact finding team had been visiting the area before Panchayat Poll. To expose the state’s repression and so called development the CMAS participated in Panchayat Election and after a long debate and for the sake of people’s cause they supported the BJP candidate in ZP election and the CMAS took a strategic decision to break the illusion of people on Panchayat system by participating in Panchayat Election.
AK: The Government and main stream media is from the very beginning trying to depict the CMAS as the peasant front of CPI(Maoist). Your comment please.
DPM: The CMAS is not a peasant front of CPI(Maoist). The CMAS has been working and functioning openly in a democratic way. Whereas the CPI(Maoist) is supporting the causes and spirit of the CMAS, with an understanding that real democracy is possible only through the revolution.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF SHREE DANDAPANI MOHANTY:
Date of Birth: 7th March, 1951. He had been actively participating in the politics form the school life. In 1967 he joined the Communist Party of India (CPI). But within a year influenced by Nagbhushan Pattanayak and Ramesh Shahoo (who was martyr in 1969) he joined the CPI(ML) in 1968. For his active participation with the CPI(ML) he was several times arrested , released and again arrested during 1971 to 1972. He joined CPI(M) in 1972 for the setback of the revolutionary armed struggle led by CPI(ML) and for the communication gap. He actively took part in nationwide Railway strike in 1974, again arrested and released after the end of the strike. He was arrested again in MISA and released after the formation of Janata Government in 1977. He left CPI(M) in 1990 in protest against the charge levelled on him for spreading the CPI(ML) ideology and politics inside CPI(M). Then he joined the CPI(ML)- Liberation in 1991 and elected as IPF state President in1991. He left CPI(ML)- Liberation in2000 on the question of the path of Indian revolution. The CPI-ML (Liberation) participated in election politics like other official left parties.
In 2002 he started work as Convener of Daman Protirodh Mancha that was banned in 2006 in the pretext of being of a frontal organization of CPI(Maoist). A case is pending in the Supreme Court challenging this ban. From 1978 to till date he is the General Secretary of Odisha Forest Majdur Union (Bamboo Culture). He is a friend and Co-advisor of CMAS and tackling its all legal works, now working as Convenor of Jana Adhikar Mancha, odisha.]
Notes:
(1) “THE FLAMES OF NARAYANPATNA” – Charvaka Publications. Govindanagar, Chandigarh – 160 014. Page-38, 39
(2) After his “arrest” by CPI (Maoist), Jhina Hikaka served a written undertaking to the people of his Assembly area that he would tender his resignation to the CM from the Assembly seat to protest against the atrocities unleashed by the Government forces. But after his release he backtracked and was shifted to the capital Bhubaneswar with his family. They are being provided with a Z-Plus category security cover. Then the force resumed its usual reign of terror. The people of more than 50 villages were implicated in false and fabricated cases and more than 70 people were detained in Koraput Jail. The CMAS President Nachika Linga’s 80 years old mother had been mercilessly beaten by BSF Jawans. Two adivasi girls were also gang raped.

In the jail the common prisoners supported the “10-Points Charter of Demand” and maintained 48 hours hunger strike from 21 – 23 September’ 2012.
10-POINTS CHARTER OF DEMAND
TO
SHRI NAVEEN PATTANAIK JI THE HON’BLE CHIEF MINISTER OF ODISHA, BHUBANESWAR.
Esteemed Sir,
We the elected representatives of Koraput District bring the following points for your kind notice which needs necessary and swift action at your end.
That, we the elected representatives of Koraput District request for an independent judicial enquiry for the Narayanpatna firing of 20-11-09 and punishment meted out to the culprits of the shenanigans if any.
The general public of Koraput District are facing numerous socio-economic hardships due to liquor trade and also dying premature due to consumption of liquor. So there should be total prohibition in this Schaduled District for the improvement and all round development of the masses as well as locality.
That your responsible Government has already taken step for strict implementation of amendments made to Regulation 2 of 1956. We further request you to implement the same in true spirit of law earnestly.
We request you to move a motion in the State Assembly for inclusion of Nokadora and Kondadora as members of Scheduled Tribe and request the Government of India to insert the aforesaid two creeds in the S. T. list.
Mali and Deomali peaks are our prestigious tourist place bearing our cultural heritage hence request your good self to preserve these and declare the same as tourist places to conserve the ecology as well as flora and fauna.
Your august office has already established many Vigilance Courts in different localities of the state and taken steps to eradicate corruptions. We further request you to undertake steps to curtail P. C. (percentage) to Government Officials in contract works.
It is reported that bonded labourer and Dadan system is still prevailing in certain parts of the State. So necessary steps may kindly be taken for its elimination.
We request you to appoint an independent judicial enquiry on the alleged rape case of Dokapadu. (Tola Dokapadu)
A number of criminal cases are pending against the members of Chasi Mulia Sangha who were acquitted by the Hon’ble Courts and cases against absconding accused persons are pending in different courts. We humbly inform your good self that there is no meaning in proceeding with the cases where co-accused persons were acquitted. Hence request you to initiate steps for withdrawal of the said cases pending in different courts.
We further request you to look into the cases pending against 3 (three) accused persons who were detained in Berhampur Jail for the unfortunate incident of 21-02-2012.
There is allegation of police excess in Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon areas in the name of combing operation. Necessary steps may kindly be taken to safeguard the interest of innocent adivasi villagers.
With fervent hope we remain sir.
With regards,
Sd/- Jayaram Pangi, MP Koraput; Ravi Narayan Nanda, MLA Jaypur; Jhina Hikaka, MLA Laxmipur; Raghu Ram Padal, MLA Koraput and 14 Zilla Parishad Members of Koraput Districts, dated 13th March,2012.
FURTHER APPEAL TO THE CHIEF MINISTER ON 28.08.12
To,
Shreejukta Navin Pattanaik,
The Honourable Chief Minister,
Bhubnaswar, Odisha.
Through Collector.
Dear Sir,
We, all the elected members of Block of Narayan Patna and Bhandhugaon want to draw your kind information on the following facts:
After the last Zilla Parishad election, there was an 10 point agreement between Juva mauka and Korapur Sansad Jayram Pangi, Jaypur MLA Ravi Narayan Nanda, Laxmipur MLA Jhina hakaka, Koraput MLA Raghguram Padal, along with 14 Zilla Parishad Members belonging to your party and it was submitted to you.
Even after the elapse of six months, we don’t find no sign from your end to fulfill any of the demands mentioned in the 10 point charter.
The Government’s proposal for the growth and development in our area is only lying in the paper. It is clear that the government is talking a step motherly attitude towards the Adivasi people in this area. Without any reason, the adivasis being implicated in various cases have been languishing in the jails. Keeping the paramilitary force in Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna area it is trying to create a fear psychosis. The Government’s sole aim is to isolate the CMAS from the masses whom it has been mobilising to fight for the democratic rights. The members of CMAS are being labelled as Maoists, terrorists, traitors. In the midnight the force has been looting the pets like goats, cocks. In both the blocks, the government employees are not present regularly. So the development work has been totally stopped. 66 years after Independence, our local people have no freedom. Due to the police repression, the people are scared to come out from their houses. During daytime they are hiding in the forest.
When this fear psychosis will be stopped?
When the adivasis will become at par with the other people of the society?
When the adivasis will get their Legitimate Rights?
To nominate an educated adivasi for the President Post will not solve these issues. Every adivasi should know the meaning of the term President. To put the common adivasis in the jail in the name of sedition will not solve the problems. It is the duty of the state and responsibility of the Government to make the adivasis as conscious citizens.
We expect the answer of all the above mentioned questions put forward to the Honourable C.M. and we demand the following actions to solve the problems:
I. Deomali and Mali hills, the pride of Odisha must not be handed over to any company to extract the bauxite, on the contrary these should be developed as tourist spots.
II. To prohibit the alcohol trade and consumption in this adivasis area, the Government should enact the Law based on Central Government Excise Law, 1974.
III. The Government should free the occupied land from the clutches of non adivasis and hand it over to the adivasis to solve the land problem.
IV. Withdraw the paramilitary force from Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon area. Stop the state violence and state repression in the name combing operation.
V. To provide drinking water in every village, arrange bore well.
VI. Recruit the local or interested teachers instead of unwilling and irregular teachers in the schools of Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon area.
VII. In Badipeta, Tentulipadara, Kaberibadi as well as in all Panchayats there should be boarding facilities to improve the quality of education.
VIII. Identify the needy person for Indira Abas Yojna.
IX. In Khumbhari Panchayet, canal should be dug for irrigation to facilitate the cultivation. For this a dam should be constructed in Chintaguda. In this way thousand of peasants will be benefited.
X. Complete the trial of the agitating people languished in the jail. Withdraw the false cases against innocent people.
XI. Investigate all the killings in the name police encounters from 2009 as well as the murder of Telika Darka in 19th August, 2012.
XII. To rehabilitate the persons evicted from their lands acquired for NALCO, HALKOLAD, and MACHAKUNDA Projects, the government should enact a law.
In this respect, until the above mentioned 12 demands are not fulfilled, we the elected representatives will start hunger strike in front of Koraput Collector Office from Tuesday, 11th September, 2012. (1)
We expect that the government will consider these demands with due importance and take the necessary steps within fifteen days.
Hopefully awaiting your action.
Sd/- All 14 ZP members of BJD and Juva Mouka dated 28th August, 2012
(1) The hunger strike has been deferred to November’ 2012 due to encircling and severe repression unleashed by the Government forces to the villages of the ZP members so that they cannot come out from their respective villages and assemble in front of the Koraput Collector Office to carry out the programme.