Udupi: No UPA Hand in Karkala Tiger Reserve Project - MLA Bhandary
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Aug 4: In a bid to cool down public anger over the proposed tiger reserve project at Karkala and clarify the Congress stand, Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary and Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde told reporters here on Friday August 3 that no such project has been proposed by the central government.
Addressing a press meet, Bhandary said that the people's protest is nothing but a political game plan by a few vested interests who want to create an atmosphere of doubt and fear. "They are creating a fearful atmosphere by telling the locals that they will be thrown out of their ancestral properties and will not be allowed to perform rituals like naga pujas," he said.
"It is not true. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh during his visit to Kollur temple was asked his opinion on the presence of Naxals in the region and police and government inaction. To this, he had replied in jest that he would let tigers into the forest which will chase away the Naxals."
"However, his statement was misunderstood and created a big mess. It was taken for granted that a tiger reserve project will be initiated in Karkala," he explained.
"I have personally spoken to the union forest minister, and he said the centre has not proposed any such project in Karkala," he said.
He added, "The forest department comes under the state government and not the centre. Hence, protesting against the central government is useless. These people (protestors) are going their own state government without their knowledge," he said.
"It is wrong notion that such a project even exists. It is creation of a few vested interests who want to gather innocent farmers and incite them against the centre," he said, adding that it was a criminal act as it violates peace.
"The central government can only fund such a project, but cannot take decisions on the project itself. Hence, fighting against the centre is stupidity," he added.
Bhandary futher informed that he has forwarded a notice against the protestors to the DC, and arrests are likely soon.
"Now that BJP people have no tricks to play and have failed in every issue they have raised against the centre, they are catching tigers by the tail, but the same tigers will bite them back," he said.
Jayaprakash Hegde said that if at all a tiger reserve project in Karkala is approved, he will himself join the people in their fight.
Protest
Earlier in the day, hundreds of farmers and the general public led by APMC protested against the proposed tiger reserve project at Karkala.
"Protection of tiger is important but for that the government should find remote areas, instead of throwing out farmers from their land. At least 5,000 families will to lose their land and livelihood. They have been staying here for years," said BJP's Sunil Kumar.
Channagowda, a farmer who owns 1.8 acres of land said that the government wants them to vacate their land and make was for tigers. "People have been living here for 200 years and all the land has been converted into agricultural land. It is the basic livelihood of people. We are ready to die, but we cannot leave this place. Let the government kill us," he said.
Kamlesh Nayak, another farmer, said that the government should not play politics with their lives. "We have no proper electricity or water, and no road. Government has not done anything for us, and now they want to chase us out. We will not leave this place even if people of Delhi themselves come to us," he said.