BSP state president says feudal forces destroyed forests but blame Adivasis

UTNOOR (ADILABAD): State president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), RS Praveen Kumar, hsa criticised Chief Minister K Chadrasekhar Rao for branding the state's Adivasis as encroachers. He alleged that KCR and other leaders of the BRS spirited away lakhs of acres of government land with the help of the Dharani portal.

He said the chief minister has no moral right to insult the Adivasis on the podu land issue.

He demanded that the CM tender an unconditional apology to the adivasis at the historical Jodeghat, from where legendary adivasi leader Komaram Bheem fought for the rights of Jal and Jangal and Jameen.

The BSP leader was addressing the media on the 178th day of the Bahujan Rajyadhikara Yatra in the Utnoor and Indravelli mandals in Khanapur assembly constituency.

He alleged that while the feudal forces snatched away thousands of acres of adivasi lands by offering them liquor and small loans. These feudal forces destroyed the forests by holding a timber business. “This is the history of Telangana and KCR forgets this,” he said.

Praveen said KCR must know adivasis have the right to make use of the natural resources as per the provisions in the 5th Schedule of the Constitution. He criticised KCR for putting conditions for adivasis and gram panchayats and party leaders to issue pattas for the podu lands. “There were many incidents where forest staff beat up pregnant adivasi women and misbehaved with them,” he said.

He said KCR and the state government failed to restore GO-3 and provide jobs to the adivasis in the agency.

BSP state secretary Sidam Ganapati said KCR failed to fulfill the promises he made to adivasis during the elections. Khanapur assembly constituency in charge Bhansilal Rathod also spoke. BSP leaders Jagan Mohan and Laxmi from Nirmal district were present.

The BSP chief garlanded the statues of BR Ambedkar and Komaram Bheem in various villages during his tour of Gottipatar, Narsapur, Indravelli and Utnoor to interact with the local people and students.