MEGHALAYA Governor Tathagata Roy, in yet another outrageous statement, has endorsed a call for boycott of Kashmir and Kashmiris in the wake of the Pulwama tragedy.  This comes at a time when Kashmiris, particularly students, in various parts of the country are being attacked, tormented and forced to leave.

 

The governor holds a constitutional office. As the representative of the president of India, he is expected to act as the custodian of the Indian constitution. This is not the first time he has made public comments which disgrace the post he holds and violate the fundamentals of the Indian constitution.  This is a transgression that is unacceptable.  The president of India must immediately sack him. 

 

 

Issue Ordinance to Prevent Eviction

         

IN the wake of the Supreme Court order for eviction of over one million adivasis and traditional forest dwellers from land in their occupation, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the Modi government should without any further delay issue an ordinance to protect all adivasis and traditional forest dwellers from eviction.

 

Adivasis are being punished for no fault of theirs but because of the utter failure of central and state governments to implement the law. According to latest figures, in December 2018, of a total of 42. 19 lakh claims received across the country, only 18.89 lakh or just over 40 per cent claims have been accepted.  The rejections are often arbitrary, against the recommendations of the gram sabha and driven by lobbies who want to handover the forests to private parties and businesses. Lakhs of appeals are pending against the rejection.

 

In the court case, the legal counsel of the central government was deliberately absent on the critical date of hearing giving rise to legitimate charges of connivance of the ministry concerned with the petition against the Forest Rights Act.

 

The government has to prevent the virtual war on adivasi rights. The Polit Bureau demands that an ordinance be issued immediately.