Anti-development? No concrete reason cited for banning Moolwasi Bachao Manch under draconian law

Counterview Desk

Forum Against Corporatization And Militarization (FACAM)* statement condemning the ban imposed on the Moolwasi Bachao Manch:

***

It has come to our attention that the Home Ministry of Chhattisgarh Government, via a circular dated 30 October 2024 has banned Moolwasi Bachao Manch, Bastar, stating it to be an unlawful and anti development organization. The ban has been initiated under section 3 of the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA). This circular does not cite any concrete reasons for the same.

Moolwasi Bachao Manch is a democratic mass organization of adivasi peasants in Bastar fighting against corporate loot and the subsequent militarization happening to serve the corporate loot. Moolwasi Bachao Manch was formed after a paramilitary camp was set up overnight on the intervening night of 13th May, 2021 and 4 adivasi people were killed by paramilitary personnel in the protest against the same on 17th May, 2021. Since then, Moolwasi Bachao Manch has been in a sit-in protest at Silger and also organized 30 different protest sites in Bastar against paramilitary camps, fake encounter killings, mass arrests of adivasi peasants and aerial bombings happening in Bastar, for more than 3 years.

Speaking to FACAM, adivasi leader Soni Sori asked "What is the basis of banning Moolwasi Bachao Manch? Who forced the Adivasis of Bastar to form it? ''If the Government listened to the demands of the Adivasis, stopped mining and building camps, instead of killing four people in Silger, MBM wouldn't have been needed". Stressing on the importance of organizations like MBM and the need to defend them, she added, "We need to save MBM because it is the only mass organization fighting in the interest of Adivasis of Bastar and struggling to save Jal-Jungle-Jameen and the existence of Adivasis". She asserted that we must stand in solidarity with MBM, build a solidarity movement on ground as well as challenge the government's dictat of ban in court.

The arbitrary ban on a democratic mass organisation through the draconian CSPSA as well the ongoing mass arrests of its members including Sunita Pottam and Surju Tekam under false and fabricated cases in the past months, goes onto show that the government is putting up a facade of peace talks with armed maoist when it cannot even engage in talks with unarmed democratic mass movement of the adivasi peasantry against corporate loot and militarisation and bans their organization.

Forum Against Corporatization And Militarisation (FACAM) strongly condemns the ban on Moolwasi Bachao Manch and demands the following-

- Revoke the ban on Moolwasi Bachao Manch.

- Release all its members arrested in fabricated and false cases.

- Engage in talks with the Moolwasi Bachao Manch on their demands.

We also request all democratically minded people to raise their voice against the arbitrary ban on Moolwasi Bachao Manch and demand the revocation of the ban.

---

*Constituents:

All India Revolutionary Students Organization (AIRSO), All India
Students Association (AISA), All India Revolutionary Women’s
Organization (AIRWO), Ambedkar Student Association- DU (ASA-DU), Bhim
Army Student Federation (BASF), Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Students
Organization (BASO), Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (bsCEM),
Collective, Common Teachers Forum (CTF), Democratic Students Union
(DSU), Fraternity Movement, Nazariya Magazine, Progressive Lawyers
Association (PLA), Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan (MAS), Trade Union Centre
of India (TUCI), Vishwavidyalaya Chhatra Federation (VCF)

Comments

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

Kerala government data implicates the Covid vaccines for excess deaths

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 03 Dec 2024, Mr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Express had written an article titled: “Kerala govt data busts vaccine death myth; no rise in mortality post-Covid”. It claims “no significant change in the death rate in the 35-44 age group between 2019 and 2023”. However, the claim is obviously wrong, even to a casual observer, as per the same data which the article presents, as explained below.

PM-JUGA: Support to states and gram sabhas for the FRA implementation and preparation and execution of CFR management plan

By Dr. Manohar Chauhan* (Over the period, under 275(1), Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided fund to the states for FRA implementation. Besides, some states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra allocated special fund for FRA implementation. Now PM-JUDA under “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan(DAJGUA) lunched by Prime Minister on 2nd October 2024 will not only be the major source of funding from MoTA to the States/UTs, but also will be the major support to the Gram sabha for the preparation and execution of CFR management Plan).

Operation Kagar represents Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism: Resistance continues

By Harsh Thakor Operation Kagar represents the Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism, which claims to embody the struggles and aspirations of Adivasis. Criminalized by the state, the Maoists have been portrayed as a threat, with Operation Kagar deploying strategies that jeopardize their activities. This operation weaves together economic, cultural, and political motives, allegedly with drone attacks on Adivasi homes.

How Amit Shah's statement on Ambedkar reflects frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion, empowerment

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Dr. B.R. Ambedkar remains the liberator and emancipator of India’s oppressed communities. However, attempts to box him between two Brahmanical political parties betray a superficial and self-serving understanding of his legacy. The statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha was highly objectionable, reflecting the frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion and empowerment.

This book delves deep into Maoism's historical, social, and political dimensions in India

By Harsh Thakor* "Storming the Gates of Heaven" by Amit Bhattacharya is a comprehensive study of the Indian Maoist movement. Bhattacharya examines the movement's evolution, drawing from numerous sources and showcasing his unwavering support for Charu Mazumdar's path and practice. The book, published in 2016, delves deeply into the movement's historical, social, and political dimensions.

Ideological assault on dargah of Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti will disturb pluralistic legacy: Modi told

Counterview Desk Letter to the Prime Minister about "a matter of the utmost concern affecting our country's social fabric": *** We are a group of independent citizens who over the past few years have made efforts to improve the deteriorating communal relations in the country. It is abundantly clear that over the last decade relations between communities, particularly Hindus and Muslims, and to an extent Christians are extremely strained leaving these latter two communities in extreme anxiety and insecurity.

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

Search This Blog