Ranchi, April 5: Anti-displacement activists are rolling up their sleeves. It’s time to take on those politicians, who had been pitching for industrialisation at the cost of ancestral and agricultural land.
Over two lakh acres of land in the state are being eyed by prospective investors in steel, power and other sectors. As a result, hundreds are on the verge of losing their land. In such circumstances, anti-displacement organisations have made this issue the central point of their campaign against political parties.
Several of these organisations — Adivasi-Moolvasi Astitva Raksha Manch in Torpa-Kamdara (Khunti and Gumla districts) opposing ArcelorMittal’s proposed Greenfield project, Bhumi Raksha Samiti in Potka (East Singhbhum) objecting to Bhushan Steel’s project and Tontoposhi (Seraikela-Kharsawan) opposing Tata Steel’s projects — have decided to vote for the candidate, who would raise voice against displacement irrespective of his/her win in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Social activist Dayamani Barla, who has been spearheading a fight against ArcelorMittal’s bid to acquire over 12,000 hectares in Torpa-Kamdara, said after a series of meetings with villagers of Potka, Tontoposhi and Khunti, they took this decision.
Dumka-based Jharkhand Ulgulan Manch, a rights group campaigning against displacement, has fielded a candidate against former chief minister Shibu Soren under whose regime the Kathikund police firing incident took place.
Sitting Congress MP from Khunti, Shushila Kerketta, who was denied a ticket, had spoken in favour for ArcelorMittal’s project in Khunti and Gumlas.
Sources said Kerketta lost her grounds apparently due to her open support for the company.
AMIT GUPTA
Source : aid-awareness@lists.aidindia.org
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