Gadchiroli Nov. 22 (District Correspondent) Opposition parties belonging to the Pragatik Paksh in the district have decided to raise the voice in the coming session of the state legislature against the proposed mining in the district.
A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of these parties held at the Press Club here on Tuesday. All India Republican Party Central Vice President Rohidas Raut presided over the meeting. District Secretary of Communist Party of India Devrao Chawle, Adv. Jagdish Meshram, Peasants and Workers Party Leader Bhai Ramdas Jarate, Jayashreetai Welda, District Secretary of Marxist Communist Party Com. Amol Markwar, district in-charge of BRSP Raj Bansod, Pratik Dange, district president of Gondwana Gantantra Party Prashant Madavi, district president of Adivasi Vikas Yuva Parishad Kunal Kowe, Vinod Madavi were mainly present.
Gadchiroli district is included in the Scheduled Area and the PESA and forest rights Acts are in force, iron mines are being dug illegally at various places despite the opposition of the local Gram Sabha and the people. To oppose these mining a strong voice should be raised, it was unanimously decided.
The Leftist, progressive political parties, organizations and gram sabhas of Gadchiroli district have come together to carry out anti-mining agitation for the past several years. However, due to political selfishness, some capitalist motivated people have been trying for breaking this movement. Due to this, there was an attempt to suppress the voice of the protestors from time to time, it was alleged in the meeting.
The established political parties like Congress, BJP, Sena, NCP deliberately ignored this issue. Therefore, the gram sabhas should follow up on various issues such as illegal iron mines, recruitment in the PESA, ownership of rivers, canals, lakes and fishermen communities in the coming winter session, it was decided. Along with this, the progressive parties also should raise the issue through their elected MLAs and give justice to the people, it was further decided in the meeting.
It was also decided to discuss the Todgatta protest issue with the district administration on behalf of the Progressive Party, Maharashtra Aghadi. The meeting was also attended by All India Republican Party Youth president Narendra Raipure, former Zilla Parishad member Kranti Kerami, journalist Hemant Dorlikar, PWP’s Dr. Gurudas Semskar, Tukaram Gedam, Ashok Kirange, Titiksha Doijad, Vijaya Meshram, Reshma Ramteke, Gram Sabha’s Nitin Pada, Kotturam Potavi, Bajirao Usendi, Prashant Gota and others.
