A dharna was organized under the banner of the Bastar Bachao Sangharsh Samti on 3 November 2016 at Budha Talab, Raipur to demand resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh and the arrest of police official SRP Kalluri who are responsible for the brutal repression of adivasis in the State and the murder of democracy. Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (Mazdoor Karyakarta Samiti), CPIM, CPI(ML) (Red Star), CPI(ML) (Liberation), Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha, Adivasi Kalyan Sansthan, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Jila Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (Rajnandgaon), Chhattisgarh Christian Fellowship, Dalit Mukti Morcha, PUCL Chhattisgarh, Bastar Patrakar Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, Chhattisgarh Kisan Sabha and other organizations participated in the dharna.
Addressing the dharna, Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha President Janaklal Thakur said that we cannot countenance a Prime Minister who provides protection to criminals. This government is crushing the rights of farmers, workers, adivasis, and dalits. The adivasis of Bastar are being brutally repressed so that their land can be grabbed. Sanjay Parate of the CPIM said that the Sangh goons are attacking the rights of the common people across the country. The Modi-Raman-Kalluri triumvirate is having adivasis killed in Bastar and handing over natural resources and land, which are the people’s property, to corporate companies. Such a government has no right to remain in power. Nand Kumar Kashyap of the Kisan Sabha said that this BJP government which burns effigies of political and human rights activists has no faith in democracy and the constitution of India but relies rather on crushing the rights of the people. CPI(ML) (Red Star) State Secretary Shora Yadav pointed out that the Chhattisgarh government is celebrating Rajyotsav (State foundation day celebrations) on the dead bodies of adivasis and farmers. Kamal Shukla of the Bastar Patrakar Sangharsh Samiti said that security forces are giving protection to companies which are engaged in illegal mining in Bastar and are killing innocent citizens; he said that an unbridled loot of minerals is going on in Bastar. The dharna was also addressed by Comrades Brijendra Tiwari, Ramakant Banjare, SR Netam, Kaladas Dahariya, Mridul Sengupta, Goldie George, Sudha Bharadwaj and others.
At the conclusion of the dharna a memorandum was sent to the President of India through the Governor of Chhattisgarh. The people’s organizations and political parties affiliated to the Bastar Bachao Sangharsh Samiti said in one voice that violence against innocent adivasis and brutal suppression of human rights is taking place in Bastar under the guise of eradication of Maoism. Adivasis are being killed in fake encounters. Women are being raped by security forces personnel. All this is being done on the say-so of the Central and State governments in order to clear the way for corporate loot of the priceless natural resources of Bastar.
