No vested interests behind Karcham-Wangtoo Project agitation: CPIM

Shimla, Dec 20 (UNI) The CPI(M) today rejected claims that some ''vested interests'' were instigating the locals to agitate on the Karcham-Wangtoo Hydel Power Project issue.

Addressing mediapersons here, state secretary CPI(M) Rakesh Singha said it was unwise on the part of the district administration of Kinnaur to state that people with vested interests were instigating the locals to agitate.

''The administration is not aware of the reality and is isolated from the problems and issues affecting the locals. They are well aware of the character of the company executing the project and they have been carrying out a relentless struggle against the project.

The CPI (M) is supporting the democratic content and struggle of the tribal people,'' he said.

Mr Singha said that instead of resorting to lathi-charge and police firing, the administration should have come up with an appropriate solution by holding a mandate on the construction of the project by the people of 11 villages surrounding the project area.

The district administration was running its office from the Sholtu office of the JP Company that is executing the project, he said.

''The whole administration is playing in the hands of the company and the interests of the locals are being sacrificed,'' he alleged.

Mr Singha said CPIM was just supporting the cause of the locals and it was unfortunate on the part of the Chief Minister to mention that some Maoists were playing active role in the agitation.

The CPIM had always fought for the cause of common people and we don't require certificate from anyone regarding its credentials, he said.

''Since several clauses of the MoU of the project are being violated, the same should be revoked and till than work on the project be suspended. The government is talking of settlement but there should be no settlement without updating the MoU and drawing new parameters for the project,'' he said adding that above all initially 10 per cent amount of the total cost of the project should be earmarked for the affected people.

He asserted that in case the government failed to settle the issue in near future, the CPIM would launch a state wide agitation.

The state government would have to pay a heavy price if coercive methods were adopted to suppress agitation and the dispute was not settled with the Karcham Wangtoo Sangharsh Samiti, the CPIM leader said.

''The police at Bhawanagar had tried to bully and arrest me and some of my fellow party men when we were returning after taking part in a rally organised by 'Sangharsh Samiti'. Some of the police personell were under influence of liquor and manhandled the party men in the bus,'' Mr Singha alleged while demanding an inquiry into the matter.

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