THE RSS and Sangh Parivar cannot provide justice to the adivasis , CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Brinda Karat, said  addressing a large adivasi gathering in Butibori, in Nagpur. She criticised the changes brought in by the Modi government in the Forest Rights Act, and said it is an attack on adivasis. The Forest Rights Act was a relief provided for the historic injustices faced by adivasis, she said and emphasized that it secures their culture and collectiveness.

Brinda Karat also criticised the Uniform Civil Code, which the Law Commission itself deemed unnecessary. She argued that it is being used by the BJP government to further divide people for electoral gains. She stressed the importance of widespread unity among adivasis based on principles of organisation and struggle.

In his address, Jiten Chaudhary, convener of AARM, stated that the ongoing Amrit kaal is not helpful for adivasis, as the central government is pursuing a corporate Hindutva agenda, which is harmful to adivasis.

Vinod Nikole addressed the gathering and criticised the state government for not discussing the real issues affecting the people in the assembly.

AIKS general secretary, Vijoo Krishnan, urged the adivasi movement to join forces with the kisan movement, citing the example of the historic long march in Maharashtra that demanded strict implementation of FRA and providing homes to adivasis with forest land.

Amol Dhurve, the district convener, presided over the meeting, while Kailash Madavi welcomed the participants. Ashok Atram moved the resolution calling for a major struggle on August 9 to demand strict implementation of FRA and protest against the UCC. Arun Latkar seconded the resolution. AARM activists conducted a house-to-house campaign to ensure the success of this convention, and the town was decorated with banners and hoardings.

The Nagpur unit of AARM was founded three years ago, and the organisation has achieved growth through struggles for FRA and on the issues of those who were allotted forest land for agriculture. They also fought for compensation for adivasis whose land was acquired for the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Highway when the government was initially in denial mode.