The people of Kalahandi will not even give a fistful of bauxite to Vedanta,” said Congress national spokesperson and Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das at a meeting held at Boden of Nuapada district on Tuesday.
later speaking to the media, Das said the State Government in violation of the rules prescribed by the Union Ministry of Tribal Welfare is conducting Gram Sabhas only in 12 villages. He further alleged that signatures of the people of the 12 villages of the Niyamgiri Hills have already been obtained by the administration without informing them about the purpose of collection of signatures with a view to manipulate documents to prove that there is consent for mining.
“We want Gram Sabhas to be held in all the 112 villages in the hills in a fair manner. I have been asked by my party to attend Gram Sabhas to observe the process,” added Das.
Gram Sabhas in five villages of Kalahandi district and seven in Rayagada are scheduled to begin from July 18 to decide about the proposal of mining in Niyamgiri. The tribals of 112 villages of this region have decided to oppose the Government’s move to take their consent by any means.
The statement of Bhakta Das at the public meeting and before the media after his virtual silence on the Niyamgiri mining issue for years has been hailed by tribals.