Addressing a huge gathering of Adivasis in the tribal-dominated Araku valley of Vishakapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat called for defeating Congress, Telugu Desam and the BJP — parties that support those who exploit the tribals. She blamed these parties for the problems being faced by the tribals and urged the tribals to vote for the CPI(M) which relentlessly fights for their interests.
Karat was the main speaker in the ‘Girijana Garjana’ (Roar of Tribals) meeting in Araku. CPI(M) former Lok Sabha member Dr M. Babu Rao, CPI(M) Central Committee member and former MP P Madhu and CPI(M) state secretariat member Ch. Narasingha Rao were the other speakers.
Brinda Karat charged the Congress-led central and state governments of denying Adivasis their legitimate rights. The large community of Konda Kummarulu who are living in dire poverty are still denied Scheduled Tribe status despite long struggle. Non-tribals are able to get ST certificates easily while this community persons are being denied. She promised to continue to fight for their inclusion into ST category. She criticised both union tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo and state tribal minister P Balaraju who hail from this region for not bothering about problems of tribals here.
Brinda Karat charged the Congress-led central and state governments of denying Adivasis their legitimate rights. The large community of Konda Kummarulu who are living in dire poverty are still denied Scheduled Tribe status despite long struggle. Non-tribals are able to get ST certificates easily while this community persons are being denied. She promised to continue to fight for their inclusion into ST category. She criticised both union tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo and state tribal minister P Balaraju who hail from this region for not bothering about problems of tribals here.
Even just looking at the image there can be little doubt that the physical characteristics of the women point clearly to their being members of a tribal community. Yet these women, belonging to the Kondara Kumhari community, are among the 30,000 of this community living in the Aruku valley who have been denied recognition as a scheduled tribe.
They have thus been denied their constitutional and legal rights. Their children do not get scholarships for schools and hostels, their youth do not get the benefit of reserved jobs, the peasants do not get the benefit of the Forest rights Act.
The Central Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo as well as the State Tribal Welfare Minister represent this constituency. They both express helplessness when asked why this grossly unjust denial has not been reversed. It is only the CPI(M) which has consistently taken up this issue. This is why in village after village where the Kondara Kumhari community resides, the Red flag of the Party can be seen.
