Tribals vow not to spare land for industry,Oppose displacement

Kalinganagar, Orissa, Jan 2 (UNI) Thousands from various parts of country who converged at Ambagadia to observe the first death anniversary of 13 tribals killed in police firing, today resolved not to allow any agriculture or forest land for industry and SEZ purpose The tribals from Jharkhand, Chhattishgarh, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra, participatedin a massive rally which commenced from Champakali where the tribals were killed in police firing last year, to the place of cremation at Ambagadia, where a public meeting was organised by the ''Bisthapan Birodhoi Manch''.

The family members of 12 tribals performed the rituals at Champakali where a huge martyr column has been erected in memory of the tribals killed in police firing before the rally began its seven km long procession to Ambagadia.

Several wings of the CPI (ML) and the banned outlaw Daman Pratirodh Manch were seen actively participating in the rally, while the local leaders of various political parties preferred to stay away from the rally and the meeting.

The meeting passed an unanimous resolution describing the industrial policy of the Naveen Patnaik government as anti-tribal, anti-people and pro MNC and their agent and decided not to allow a single person to be displaced by any project.

The tribals also resolved that no cultivable and forest land would be handed over for the industry and demanded the scrapping of SEZ status for Sukinda industrial belt.

They further demanded dismissal of Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Finance Minister P C Ghadei, suspension of the Director General of Police, Home Secretary and criminal action against the District Collector and Superintendent of Police for the death of 13 tribals in the police firing.

The meeting also decided not to lift the road blockade and intensify the agitation to protest against the displacement. The tribals have resorted to road blockade since January 2 last year in protest against the police oppresion on them.

UNI