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Stop repressive measures, State urged

MEETING OF MINDS: Speakers at the convention on police repression of various mass movements in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

BHUBANESWAR: Speakers, who addressed a State-level convention on the alleged State repression on various mass movements in different parts of the State here on Wednesday, demanded that the government not ignore the genuine voices of dissent of the people in the name of development.

They called upon the representatives of various organisations who are leading agitations against displacement by industrial projects, mining, land rights and rights of the farmers to join hands and continue their struggle to make the government consider their demands with an open mind.

Those who addressed the convention include president of Odisha Jana Sammilani Rabi Das, former Advocate General Jayanta Das, senior journalist Prasanta Patnaik, veteran social activist Prafulla Samantara, farmers’ rights activist Lingaraj and CPI-ML (Liberation) leader Radhakant Sethy.

Many of those who spoke at the convention underlined the need for brining out a publication listing the reasons behind the mass movements that were going on at different places as well as their demands.

They also demanded that the State government publish a whitepaper making its stand clear on the issues being taken up by the locals at places such as Kalinga Nagar, Dhinkia, Beladala, Kashipur, Lanjigarh and Narayanpatna.

Condemning the recent arrest of Advisor of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha Gananath Patra, the speakers warned the State government and police not to keep themselves busy for protection of the interests of big private companies all the time.

The police should stop harassing those leading agitation against displacement or mining in the name of fighting Maoists, they said.

Some of the speakers also suggested that the media should take all care while reporting the developments in places where people were fighting for the protection of their rights.

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