Ousted minister to fight for tribals' land rights

Raipur, July 2 (UNI) Veteran tribal leader Nankiram Kanwar, who was dropped from the 43-month-old Dr Raman Singh ministry, today said he would launch an agitation against displacing the tribals from their land in the forests.

Talking to newsmen soon after he was dropped from the ministry, he said as a minister he had already written letters to all concerned, pointing out that the forest department had occupied the land owned by the tribals at many places in the state.

''Now I am no more a minister. I will go back to the people to fight for their rights,'' Mr Kanwar said, adding that he would visit his home town Korba soon.

Pointing out that the party had promised the tribals to grant patta (land ownership deed) on various occasions, he said despite this the forest department was occupying the land ''owned'' by the tribals.

Replying to a question whether any lobby had worked to get him removed from the cabinet, the senior tribal leader said ''there is no point in discussing such matters''.

Mr Kanwar said Chief Minister Raman Singh had informed him about being dropped from the ministry just half an hour before the swearing-in-ceremony.

UNI