A protest meeting was held by Congress at Boden of Nuapada district on Tuesday with more than three thousand people attending it. The senior party members criticised the Governments in Odisha and at the Center for not showing concern for the needs of the tribals.
“The apathy of the BJD and the BJP Governments in the State and the Centre and their lack of interest in implementing of the Forest Right Act - 2006 has resulted in landlessness and marginalisation of the tribals,” the leaders alleged.
Minister, Excise and Mining, Chhattisgarh Government, Kawasi Lakhma, PCC secretary Adhiraj Panigrahi, AICC general secretary Bhakta Charan Das and many other Congress leaders were present.
“The Forest Rights Act was passed by the Congress Government in 2006 to protect the rights of tribals, but the present Governments in Odisha and at the Center have failed to protect the rights and interests of the tribals,” slammed Panigrahi, who is the MLA aspirant for Khariar Assembly Constituency. Panigrahi told that the BJP and BJD Governments have deprived the people of their rights to forest, food as well as work by neglecting the proper implementation of the exclusive laws promulgated at the time of Congress rule.
Chhatisgarh Minister Lakhma denounced the Governments of Naveen Patnaik and Narendra Modi as anti-tribal having a common interest to deprive the tribals of their rights. "Congress is the party of Gandhi and BJP is the party of Godse," said Lakhma.
Das appealed to the tribals to support Congress in the forthcoming general elections. "With your support, our leader Rahul Gandhi will be the next Prime Minister and Niranjan Patnaik will be our CM," said