Umang Singhar Backs Ken-Betwa Protest as Tribal Activist Ends Hunger Strike

Political activity has intensified in Madhya Pradesh over the demands of families affected by the Ken-Betwa Link Project. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar reached Panna on Saturday and met tribal farmers who have been protesting over displacement, compensation and rehabilitation. In the area considered the stronghold of Bharatiya Janata Party state president VD Sharma, Singhar extended his support to the ‘Chita Andolan’, which has continued for 42 days, and accused the state government of ignoring affected families.

The protest is being led by tribal farmer and activist Amit Bhatnagar. He had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 27 days. He ended his fast after Singhar appealed to him to do so. Bhatnagar drank coconut water in the presence of the Congress leader, bringing the hunger strike to an end.

After this, Singhar joined the ‘Save the Constitution, Save Democracy’ yatra. He then reached the collectorate and submitted a memorandum regarding the demands raised by the protesters.

Addressing the protesters, the Leader of the Opposition targeted the BJP government. He said that the interests of tribal people, Dalits and farmers could not be ignored. Singhar said, “आदिवासी, दलित और किसानों को अनाथ समझने वाली सरकार यह याद रखे कि कांग्रेस अभी जिंदा है।” The statement means that the government should remember that the Congress is still alive even if it considers tribal people, Dalits and farmers abandoned.

Singhar said that no family should be subjected to injustice in the name of development projects. He also said that the fight for the rights of affected families would continue from the streets to the state Assembly.

The Congress leader questioned the government over the second survey of families affected by the Ken-Betwa Link Project and the inquiry into compensation. He said that he had met the protesters on 14 July and later raised the matter in the Assembly.

According to Singhar, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav subsequently directed that a fresh survey be conducted and that the compensation provided to affected families be examined. However, the Leader of the Opposition questioned why there was still no clear account of action taken three months after those directions.

Singhar asked where the report of the second survey was. He also questioned how many families that had earlier been left out had received compensation so far. The questions were linked to the complaints of affected families over the survey and the compensation process.

During his visit to Panna, Singhar also went to the district jail. There, he met protester Divya Ahirwar, who has been in jail for the past 28 days.

Singhar questioned the FIRs registered against the protesters. He demanded that the cases be withdrawn and that Divya Ahirwar be released immediately. He appealed to the government to deal sensitively with cases connected to the protest and to resolve the problems faced by affected families.

The ‘Chita Andolan’ has been continuing for 42 days under the leadership of Amit Bhatnagar. The protesters’ main demands include a solution to the problem of displacement, an inquiry into alleged irregularities in compensation, proper rehabilitation and compliance with the provisions of the Forest Rights Act.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project has affected families in the area, and the protest has focused on their displacement, compensation and rehabilitation. With Singhar reaching Panna and backing the protesters, the movement has received political support from the Congress.

The visit has also brought the dispute into a wider political confrontation in Madhya Pradesh. The questions over the demands of affected families and the second survey are now being raised directly against the BJP government by the Congress. The political message from Singhar’s visit was that the issue of families affected by the Ken-Betwa Project is no longer limited to displacement and compensation. It is also becoming a subject of political conflict between the BJP government and the Congress in the state.

The government’s next action on the demands of the affected families and the questions surrounding the second survey remains to be seen.