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AKS ends agitation before Secretariat

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH. 21. The CPI(M)-affiliated Adivasi Kshema Samithi (AKS) today called off its two-day agitation before the State Secretariat expressing its solidarity with the LDF MLAs who had been observing fast demanding a judicial inquiry into the Muthanga incident.

This follows the decision of the LDF to ask its MLAs, A. Neelalohithadasan Nadar, Kovoor Kunjumon, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and N. Rajan--to end their fast since the Government had announced its intention to seek a CBI probe into the incident.

Over 2,000 tribals, who had come from all parts of the State under the banner of the AKS, had pitched sheds around the Secretariat and were engaged in an action which reminded one of the agitation C. K. Janu's Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha had carried out at the same place one-and-a-half years ago. Through tribal dances and songs, they kept up a constant din to convey their outrage over the Muthanga firing. Makeshift kitchens to cook food for the agitators too had sprung up around the Secretariat.

The AKS leaders, K. C. Kunhuraman and Vidyadharan Kani, said though they were ending the action around the Secretariat, the stir for the Adivasi land would continue till the Government implemented its promise to provide five acres of land for each tribal family in the State.

At 16 places across the State, the AKS had occupied Government land and established settlements. Over 1,200 tribal families have huts in these settlements. This mode of agitation, the leaders said, would continue till the Government solved their land issue. Any move on the part of the Government to evict them would be stoutly resisted, they added.

They also criticised the Government for the way it had been implementing the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) schemes. The previous LDF Government had entrusted the TSP schemes to the grama panchayats for implementation. The Antony Government transferred them back to the Tribal Welfare Department. The tribals did not benefit by the schemes last year due to bureaucratic indifference. Large sums allocated in the Budget were allowed to lapse, the AKS leaders said.

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