Jana Sena party (JSP) president Pawan Kalyan said on Monday development models that threw the cultural identities of people into jeopardy besides endangering their livelihood were not needed. Nature and forests were by and large intact because of the tribal people who lived in harmony with the elements, he said at a meeting with them at Araku in Visakhapatnam district.
Bauxite mining, he observed, was essential for development but not at the cost of the forest-dwellers. The mining activity had to be strictly regulated inclusive of the tribal folks and with their consent. He said village meetings should be held and the project could be taken forward only when at least 70% of the participants agreed to it.
Mr. Pawan alleged that the tribal people were provoked when he questioned why the fishing communities were not recognised as the Scheduled Tribes.
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Accusing the Chief Minister of playing caste politics through his 40 years of experience, Mr. Pawan said he did not reach out to the tribals to pit them against the government but would not remain a mute spectator if their lives were shattered by the powers that be.
He warned that the government would be triggering unrest among them if it resorted to oppressive action. Rather, it should take them into confidence, lest the valley should plunge into chaos one day or the other.