JAVA Odisha demands Withdrawal of Land Ordinance 2015

Jami Adhigrahan Virodhi Abhijan (JAVA), Odisha, the outfit formed in the State after promulgation of Land Ordinance by Modi Government at the Centre ,organized a massive protest rally and dharna/public meeting at  Bhubaneswar demanding immediate withdrawal of Land Acquisition Ordinance 2015.

Around 3000  people from different farmers Sangathans affiliated to six major left parties in the State including Fishermen unions, anti-displacement struggle groups, Dalit and Tribal sangathans, Agricultural worker’s and Basti Basinda groups joined in the protest rally and dharna. The protest rally started from the Railway station and marched towards the Governor’s House. However, the protest rally was stopped by the police at Lower PMG, where a protest public meeting was held.

The protest public meeting was jointly presided by the Co-convenors of JAVA namely Ashish Kanungo(Krushak Mahasabha), Suresh Panigrahi (Odisha Krushak Sabha), Rebati Ballabha Mohanty (Akhil Bharat Krantikari Krushak Sabha), Bhalla Chandra Sarangi (Akhil Bharat Kishan Mazdoor Sabha), Srikant Mohanty (Chasi Mulia Sangha, Odisha), Prasant Paikray (Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti) and Ashok Pradhan (Akhil Bharat Krushak Mahasabha).

At the end of the protest dharna and public meeting, a 12 member’s delegation team submitted the memorandum to the Governor of Odisha.

Besides the  co-conveners who presided over the meeting, the protest public meeting was also addressed by Rabi Das (senior Journalist and a co-convener of JAVA) Prafulla Samantara (President, Lok Shakti Abhijan and co-convener of JAVA), Abhay Sahu(President,PPSS), Jayanta Bhoi (co-convener JAVA), Sheikh Abdul Wali (co-convenor JAVA), Narendra Mohanty (Banbasi Surakhya Parishad and co-Convener JAVA ), Tapan Mishra (Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, Narayanpatna), Narayan Reddy (anti-TATA movement, Gana Sangram Samiti), Braja Tripathy (ex-MP and leader of Kishan Panchayat), Balgopal Mishra(ex-Minister) , Mrs. Sini Say (Bisthapan Virodhi Manch, Sukinda, Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur), Dama Pradhan (Vedanta Biswa Bidyalaya Virodhi Sangathan Samiti), Satya Banchhor(Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti,)Bajendra Mohaty (Malkangiri Zila Adivasi Sangha), Bhagwan Majhi (Prakrutik Sampad Surakhya Parishad, Kashipur), Mayadhara Nayak (APP Krushak Manch), Prabir Mohanty (Samrudha Odisha Krushak Sangha) and Balraj Gamel (Adibasi Sangh, Malkangiri).

Members of more than 40 Sangathans joined the protest rally. The important sangathans which joined in the  protest rally and dharana were— Upakulia Jami O’ Jungle Surakhya Samiti, Vedanta Biswa Bidyalaya Virodhi Sangathan Samiti, Akhil Bharat Krushak Sabha (ABKS, Mayurbhanja Zilla Committee), Republican Chasi Mulia Mahasangha, Chasi Surakhya Abhijan Odisha, Sambruddha Odisha, Malkangiri Zilla Adivasi Sangha, Chasi Mulia Sangha Odisha, Aathmallik Saakha, Gana Sangram Samiti(Ganjam), Akhil Bharat Kishan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS), National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) Odisha, Akhil Bharat Kantikari Krushak Sabha (ABKKS, Ganjam Zilla Committee), Bisthapan Virodhi Manch(Sukinda, Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur), Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samittee (PPSS), Banabasi Surakhya Parishad(Kandhamal), Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, Akhil Bharat Khet Mazdoor Kisahan Sabha (AIKMKS), Chasi Mulia Sangh (Puri Zila Committee) Akhil Bharat Krushak Mahasanagha (Odisha State Committee), Prakrutik Sampad Surakhya Parishad (Kashipur, Rayagada) and Lower Suktel Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti, Bolangir.

All speakers demanded immediate withdrawal of the Ordinance calling it ‘anti-farmer and corporate friendly’. The JAVA Conveners also raised serious concern over the dilution of Forest Rights Act, 2006 by the Modi Government and they pointed out the intervention on part of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) as the factor that has prevented the complete dilution of the Act, till date.

In its memorandum submitted, JAVA also requested the Governor to advise the Government of Odisha not to make the re-promulgated Land Ordinance applicable to the State of Odisha which can be done on the ground that land is a State subject.