Members of social organisations, activists and political leaders of different parties led by the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), Odisha staged a massive rally in front of the State Assembly here on Thursday demanding withdrawal of the Central Government’s Ordinance amending the land Acquisition Act 2013.
later, the activists and political leaders submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging him to look into the matter seriously and to direct the State and the Central Government to take action to safeguard the fundamental and constitutional rights of the tribals and forest dwellers of the State.The rally attended by hundreds of people including tribals, dalits and farmer society protested the Centre’s ordinance by saying that it would undermine the power of the ‘Gram Sabha Sarkar’ by diluting the Forest Rights Act, 2006. They also protested the illegal MoEF order of October 28, 2004.
Activists like lok Shakti Abhiyan president Prafulla Samantara, CSD Odisha convener Gopinath Majhi, Congress leader Bhakta Das, Niyamgiri movement leader lingaraj Azad, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Narayan Reddy, CPI(Ml) liberation leader Mahendra Parida, CPI(Ml) leader Shivram, women leader Pramila Behera and representatives of different social organisations lashed out at both the State and the Centre for helping the rich industrialists and corporate houses by modifying laws of the land.The activists and leaders expressed grave concern over the Centre’s move to pass the ordinance in the Parliament. The ordinance would not only dilute the authority of the Gram Sabha but also choke the public voice on mindless industrialisation, they added.