All-India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday admitted he had played a crucial role in the rejection of forest clearance to the Niyamgiri bauxite mines and assured local tribals here that he would continue to fight to protect their interests.
Mr Gandhi, whose visit to this remote and poverty-stricken part of the state comes just three days after the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) set aside the forest clearance to the Vedanta refinery project, said to the tribals: “Two years ago you had requested me to save Niyamgiri from being leased out to industrial houses. I had promised to work as your sipahi (soldier) in Delhi. And I have kept my promise.”
London-listed Vedanta Alumina Ltd is eyeing Niyamgiri hills for its rich bauxite reserves. Environment groups and local Congress leaders are opposing handing over the “biodiversity-rich” Niyamgiri area because, they say, it would completely unsettle the livelihood of the Dongaria Kondhas and Kutia Kondhas, two primitive tribes living in the hills for ages.
Before addressing the gathering, Mr Gandhi was welcomed by over 100 traditionally attired Dongaria Kondhas and Kutia Kondhas and was led to the dais amidst beating of tribal drums and the sound of musical instruments.
The Congress leader’s revelation about his hand in the cancellation of the forest clearance has put an end to speculation about the “invisible” force supporting the local tribals.
Mr Gandhi had visited Kalahandi and other western Orissa districts in 2008.
The party, which had only one Lok Sabha member in the last Lok Sabha from Orissa, improved its tally to six. Political analysts here said the Congress is using the “Rahul card” to regain lost ground in western Orissa.
As usual, after his brief speech at Jagannathpur near Lanjigarh, Rahul gave his security personnel the slip and crossed the barricades to mingle with the tribals. He shook hands with them and was gifted traditional bows and arrows. “You raised your voice against the attempt to evict from you from native place. It was heard by the UPA government. The fight has just begun and it will continue,” Mr Gandhi said.
Meanwhile, over 50 activists were arrested just before Mr Gandhi arrived. Those arrested belong to the Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikash Parishad who maintain that cancellation of the forest clearance would jeopardise the development process initiated by the present state government headed by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.