Kerala - Kozhikode   

`Government trying to scuttle land distribution'

Special Correspondent

C.K. Janu flays LDF stand on the issue

KOZHIKODE: Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) leader C.K. Janu alleged here on Thursday that an attempt was being made by the Government with the help of a few members of a tribal community in Kannur to scuttle distribution of land earmarked for tribal people in Aralam farm.

Addressing a press conference, Ms. Janu said though the land in Aralam farm, which was obtained from the Union Government, was to be distributed among landless tribal people in Kannur and Wayanad districts, the LDF Government was trying to jeopardise the land distribution process. A few huts of tribal people had been burnt already by forces trying to defeat the Adivasi struggle in Kannur, she alleged.

Ms. Janu said instead of distributing land among landless tribes, which was what the High Court had ordered, the Government was driving out tribal people from the land they had forcibly occupied in Wayanad during their agitation for land rights.

Ms. Janu said the LDF Government's "negative attitude" was in sharp contract to the sympathetic stand taken on this issue by CPI(M)'s senior leaders like Brinda Karat.

Geetanandan, general secretary of Rashtriya Maha Sabha, who was also present at the press conference, warned that the attempt to scuttle the land distribution process at Aralam farm would lead to "another Nadigram - like situation," referring to the stand-off between the local people in Nadigram village in West Bengal and the CPI(M)-led Government in power in that State over the takeover of land for Tata's car project.

"Or there would be re-enactment of Muthanga in Kannur," said Mr. Geethanandan, who was with Ms. Janu in the forefront of the tribal agitation for land rights in Muthanga in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary four years ago.

Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha and its political arm Rashtriya Maha Sabha will take out a march to Parliament to focus attention on the "Government's failure to give land to landless tribal people."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Move to scuttle land distribution alleged
`Government trying to scuttle land distribution'
Elephant runs amok in Koyilandy
Inauguration

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu