What does the death of a jailed Jesuit priest say about India's democracy under Modi?

Stan Swamy had recently published a study of 3,000 people jailed for being members of banned Maoist groups. He found that 97% of them had no such affiliation and that many of their trials were held without lawyers, in a language they didn't understand. He'd filed a case on their behalf in the state court of Jharkhand, where he lived. All of this had embarrassed the government, he said.

#StanSwamy #jharkhand #adivasis #AdivasiRights #ForestRights #maoists #dalits #BK16 #BhimaKoregaonCase #HumanRights #UAPA #BJP #india

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/02/1250799690/india-democracy-modi-priest-jail-death

BJP govt policies helped plundering of natural resources like never before, says report

The report shows how the Union government diluted environment legislations and clamped down on environmental activists, thereby repressing protests and representations against unsustainable development.

#environment #BJP #NaturalResources #EnvironmentalImpact #ForestConservation #ForestRights #TribalRights #PUCL #FFF #BahutvaKarnataka #CronyCapitalism #india

https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/bjp-govt-policies-helped-plundering-of-natural-resources-like-never-before-says-report

In Lush, Ancient Chhattisgarh Forest, Thousands Of Trees Cut To Mine Coal For Rajasthan, Threatening Adivasi Homes, Water, Livelihoods

As the union and state governments clear the second phase of mining operations at a controversial coal mine, over 15,000 trees were cut, in addition to 81,000 cut since 2012. Activists say this is an undercount, estimating that another 399,000 trees face the axe for mining coal in the lush forests of Hasdeo Arand. Adivasis worship the trees as deities, depending on them for livelihood. As protests sweep the villages nearby, the removal of trees has intensified elephant-human conflict.

#CoalMining #deforestation #chhattisgarh #rajasthan #HasdeoForests #HasdeoAnand #ForestRights #TribalRights #AdivasiRights #adivasis #environment #AdaniGroup #BJP #congress #india

https://article-14.com/post/in-lush-ancient-chhattisgarh-forest-thousands-of-trees-cut-to-mine-coal-for-rajasthan-threatening-adivasi-homes-water-livelihoods--65d2bdd0e264a

The Hasdeo Bachao Movement: How Adivasis are Challenging Paradigms of ‘Vikas’

The movement has found support from various groups including farmers. 'It is our duty to protect water, forest, and land,' say tribal communities. Freny Maneckshaw writes.

#chhattisgarh #HasdeoForests #HasdeoAnand #AdaniGroup #CoalMining #adivasis #ForestRights #TribalRights #environment #india

https://thewire.in/rights/the-hasdeo-bachao-movement-adivasis-vikas

Rahul Gandhi’s election pledge to support struggle against Adani’s Hasdeo coal projects

The campaign to protect India’s Hasdeo forests from coal mining received a boost on 13 February 2024 when prominent Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, met with leaders of the movement and pledged the support of his party.

#chhattisgarh #HasdeoForests #AdaniGroup #CoalMining #RahulGandhi #ForestRights #environment #TribalRights #congress #adani #india

https://www.adaniwatch.org/rahul_gandhi_s_election_pledge_to_support_struggle_against_adani_s_hasdeo_coal_projects

Head of constitutional ST body flagged grave concerns with new Forest Rules before early ‘resignation’

NCST chairman Harsh Chouhan resigned eight months before his term ended, and the commission is now ‘defunct’.

#NCST #HarshChouhan #FRA #ForestRights #TribalRights #BhupendarYadav #EnvironmentMinistry #BJP #environment #india

https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/01/29/exclusive-head-of-constitutional-st-body-flagged-grave-concerns-with-new-forest-rules-before-early-resignation

Bastar: Children Caught in the Crossfire Between Maoists and Security Forces

The failure to address these grievances of the native Adivasis of these regions has eroded the trust between the villagers and security forces. Prasun Goswami writes.

#chhattisgarh #bastar #adivasis #maoists #ForestRights #FRA #india

https://thewire.in/rights/bastar-children-caught-in-the-crossfire-between-maoists-and-security-forces

Rahul Yatra: Congress’s political strategy faces too many constraints for a successful execution

Social justice for vulnerable groups is the ideological plank and a focus on tribal, OBC and Dalit voters is the electoral strategy underpinning the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Pulling it off for the 2024 Lok Sabha election looks a tall order. Asim Ali writes.

#elections2024 #RahulGandhi #BharatJodoNyayYatra #INDIAAlliance #congress #SocialJustice #dalits #OBCs #adivasis #ForestRights #AntiMinorityViolence #india

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/opinion/rahul-yatra-congresss-political-strategy-faces-too-many-constraints-for-a-successful-execution-12047311.html

Hasdeo Arand Deforestation Raises Questions of Adivasi Justice for Chhattisgarh’s First Tribal CM

A section of activists fighting for Adivasi rights in the state believe that there is no point in having a tribal chief minister if he continues to overlook the community’s priorities to facilitate corporate interests in Chhattisgarh.

#chhattisgarh #HasdeoAnand #AdaniGroup #adani #ForestRights #adivasis #TribalRights #BJPStates #environment #india

https://thewire.in/rights/hasdeo-arand-deforestation-raises-questions-of-adivasi-justice-for-chhattisgarhs-first-tribal-cm