CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat criticised the state government for not challenging the stay given by court on the implementation of Forest Rights Act in Tamil Nadu.
She was addressing a press conference convened in view of the State conference of Tamil Nadu Malaivaazh Makkal Sangam started here on Saturday.
“Some vested interests challenged the Act in court and its implementation in the State was stayed since then. Not even a single patta has been given to tribal people under the act during the last 10 years. Neither the DMK government then in power nor the present AIADMK government took any steps to revoke the retrograde stay,” Ms. Karat said.
She also added that there were several cases of violation against the rights of tribal people in the State and every right of tribals came under attack under the Modi government. “While Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about the legacy of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, constitutional provision for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) has been directly questioned by his mentor and RSS chief Mohan Bhagavat. RSS wants to question, dilute and ultimately eliminate reservation. If any party in Tamil Nadu has any soft corner for the BJPthen it is straight betrayal of Dravidian social reform movement which has always stood by the affirmative action for the oppressed castes,” Ms.Brinda Karat said. She demanded reservation for SC/ST in private sector.
“In Tamil Nadu reactionary forces are becoming strong. Honour killings were never there before in the State. We have seen it in Haryana and other states in North India. But now certain political forces are encouraging such acts in the State. Our party and left movement protest against such retrograde moves and we demand a standalone Act from the Centre on this issue,” she added.
