BHOPAL: Eviction of tribal people from forest land on the order of Supreme Court is snowballing into a big issue before Lok Sabha elections. CM Kamal Nath has formed a committee to look into Forest Rights Act (FRA) rejection by the state government. Meanwhile, Jyotiraditya Scindia has shot a letter to CM on the same issue. CM has formed committee to propose action taken on SC’s decision. The committee includes home minister Bala Bachhan, minister of law and legislative affairs PC Sharma, forest minister Umangh Singhar and Scheduled Tribe Welfare minister Omkar Singh Markam.
Principal secretary of tribal welfare department has been appointed as coordinator of the committee that will discuss the issue in detail with all the stakeholders and then submit its report to the government. The development related to tribal eviction gains significance as it consists 21% (1.6 crore) of the state population according to 2011 census. Considering upcoming Lok Sabha election Congress has got an opportunity to regain its lost base. Tribal organisation JAYSS (Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti Sanghthan) coordinator Hiralal Alawa too had criticised PM Modi on the issue and had demanded an ordinance to nullify apex court’s order or face the music in Lok Sabha election.
