October 12, 2008

Kalinga Nagar tribals to intensify stir against TATA Steel plant

SNS reported that tribals of Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district of Orissa have threatened of mass agitation against the indifferent attitude of Orissa government towards their seven point charter of demands. As per report, hundreds of tribals who gathered at Ambagadia, the cremation ground where 14 of the firing deceased were mass cremated to decide their future course of action charged the Jajpur district administration and the Mr Naveen Patnaik government of being puppets at the hands of multinationals and working against the interests of tribals.

Mr Rabindra Jarika general secretary of Visthapan Virodhi Janamanch said that “The police and the district administration had assured us to arrest the accused involved in the March 13th 2008 firing incident this month in which one of our close associates Jogendra Jamuda was injured. But nothing has happened so far. It means the police are encouraging a particular steel company to attack our supporters to weaken our movement that was aimed at protecting our lives and livelihood sources.”

Mr Jarika warned that “We would not allow TATA Steel authorities enter the proposed steel project until the issues on rehabilitation and resettlement are fully resolved. Those who were earlier displaced by various projects in Kalinga Nagar are yet to be properly rehabilitated. We will never go by the false promises made by the company officials and government.’

Visthapan Virodhi Janamanch is a forum of the Kalinga Nagar tribals who have been leading anti displacements agitation in the steel hub since January 2nd 2006 where 14 tribals were killed by police bullets during construction of boundary wall of TATA Steel's proposed steel project.