NEW DELHI : Cutting across party lines, leaders on Wednesday extended support for the Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005.

The issue came up in the Lok Sabha where Ramjilal Suman (SP) sought to know why the Bill had not been introduced in the current session of Parliament.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said it would be passed this year. Issues between tribal and non-tribal forest-dwellers would be resolved shortly.

Basic element

Addressing a Campaign for Survival and Dignity's dharna here, the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, said forest rights were the most basic element of livelihood for tribals.

If forest management were democratised people and the forests would benefit. Brinda Karat, MP and CPI (M) Polit Bureau member, said the Government refused to come out openly on why the JPC report was being rejected and the Bill delayed. She said the Government accused the Left of blocking the Bill when, in fact, it were they who most strongly supported a genuine bill. Ajit Jogi (Congress) said that he had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister. D. Raja (CPI) said that his party constantly stood by the forest rights struggle both inside and outside Parliament.

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