Terming the G.O. allocating iron ore mines in Bayyaram under the Fifth Schedule area to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) as “anti-constitutional,” balladeer Gadar has demanded that the government immediately scrap the G.O.
“There is a conspiracy behind the deliberate move as it is aimed at diluting the separate Telangana movement,” he charged.
Mr. Gadar was talking to mediapersons here on Tuesday evening after visiting Bayyaram. He participated in a meeting held in Bayyaram in connection with the conclusion of the five-day padayatra by activists of the Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika under the banner “Bayyaram Ukku — Adivasila Hakku” from Guduru in Warangal district to Bayyaram.
“Telangana region is known as a treasure trove of mineral wealth and half its wealth has already perished. While former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had opened the gates for mining by private firms in the tribal areas, the present Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy issued the arbitrary G.O. handing over the iron ore mines situated in the Fifth Schedule area to the VSP,” he alleged.
“These acts amounted to breach of rights bestowed by the Constitution on the Adivasis in the Scheduled areas. The mineral wealth in the Scheduled areas belongs to the Adivasis,” he said, demanding that the government immediately convene an all-party meeting to take appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of the Adivasis and their mineral wealth. Taking an indirect dig at the TRS and other parties, he said, those claiming to be the champions of separate Telangana movement had failed to safeguard the mineral wealth of the region in the past 10 years.
“It is absurd to link the elections and the separate Telangana movement. Mass movements involving all sections alone would realise the goal of separate Telangana,” he reiterated. Telangana Praja Front vice-president M. Ved Kumar was present.
