Umang Singhar cornered the MP government regarding the Ken-Betwa project, said, “The funeral pyre movement of the tribals is proof of the insensitivity of BJP.”

Umang Singhar has made a scathing attack on the government regarding the ‘Chita Movement’ going on against the Ken-Betwa Link Project in Chhatarpur. He said that women and children lying on symbolic pyres is a painful cry against the insensitivity of the BJP government, but instead of listening to their voices, the government is adopting the path of police action and repression.

The Leader of Opposition said that the government talks about women empowerment, but under the same regime, women are forced to lie on symbolic pyres along with their children. He alleged that in the name of development, corporate interests are being given priority by displacing tribal families. The Congress leader said that his party stands with the affected families in the fight for the rights and identity of the tribal community and this struggle will continue “from the streets to the House”.

Movement of local residents continues

The ‘Chita Movement’ which has been going on since Saturday against the Ken-Betwa Link Project in the Dhodan Dam (Daudhan) area located on the border of Chhatarpur and Panna districts, intensified on Monday. On Sunday too, hundreds of villagers protested by lying on symbolic pyres. During the movement, tribal women were seen lying on pyres with their children. The protesting villagers say that they are ready to go to any extent to save their land, forest and livelihood. The main demands of the protesters include the immediate release of their leader Amit Bhatnagar and proper compensation, rehabilitation and alternative land to the displaced families.

Umang Singhar surrounded the government

Umang Singhar termed the incident of women and children lying on symbolic pyres in this movement as “insensitivity” of the BJP government and accused the BJP of suppressing the voice of the tribal society. He said that women and children lying on pyres in protest against the Ken-Betwa link project in Chhatarpur is a painful cry against the government. The Leader of Opposition said that the tribal families of the state are fighting to save their water, forests and land, but instead of listening to their demands, the government is adopting an attitude of oppression. The Congress leader has said that his party stands strongly with the tribal community in the fight for their identity and rights and this fight for justice will continue from the streets to the House.