The Telangana Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, has accused the KCR government of conspiring to hand over forest land to the timber mafia by displacing native tribal communities. Bhatti made these allegations while speaking to media persons at Kerameri village in Asifabad Assembly constituency on the sidelines of People’s March Haath Se Haath Jodo Yatra, which had entered its sixth day on Tuesday. The padayatra had started from Jamney in Jainoor Mandal and reached Kerimeri village via Rasimatta, Bhusimatta, and Bhusimatta camp, covering a distance of nearly 18km.
Bhatti Vikramarka condemned the BRS government’s policies towards tribal communities and warned that any attempt to disturb the tribals’ way of life could lead to another movement similar to the one that secured Telangana’s statehood. He said that the Congress party would not remain silent if Tribals’ self-respect was violated.
The CLP leader further stated that the present government, headed by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, was not implementing the SC and ST Sub-Plans introduced by the previous Congress regime through proper legislation to ensure 100% spending of the budget allocation and focused development of Dalits and Tribals. He said that the BRS Govt has weakened the ITDA, causing chaos in the lives of tribals, weakening them, and depriving them of their forest rights.
Bhatti Vikramarka visited the Bhushimatta camp area as part of the padayatra, where he met with tribals who complained of harassment by bank officials for clearing loans promised to be waived off by the KCR Govt. They also said that forest officials were not allowing them to collect nuts, fruits, honey or other forest products. Additionally, they highlighted the issue of receiving inferior-quality rice on their ration cards, causing stomach pain and other diseases. They also complained of not having access to an ambulance or medical treatment in case of an emergency.
The CLP leader assured the tribals that all their grievances would be addressed once the Congress party returns to power. He reiterated that the Tribals have the first right over forests and no one could snatch it away from them. Meanwhile, tribal women from the Bhusimatta camp cooked food which Bhatti Vikarmarka and Tribals ate together.
