Varavara Rao objects to BJP, Cong outburst over Mahendra Karma's killing

• 'Congressmen overlooked his atrocities against tribals'
• Demands immediate steps to end adivasi killings
• Prof. Haragopal: Chhattisgarh ambush a natural reaction

Warangal: Revolutionary poet Varavara Rao on Saturday took serious exception to the uproar created by both the BJP and the Congress over the death of a Congress leader and Salwa Judum founder Mahendra Karma.

He noted that the leaders, who were crying hoarse over Karma's killing in an ambush by the Maoists in Chattisgarh, were silent about the massacres he committed in the Bastar forest. Hundreds of innocent tribals were killed by the Salwa Judum. Varavara Rao alleged that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who termed the killing of Karma and others 'undemocratic', never cared to stop the brutal killings of tribals by him. None of the Congress leaders was worried about the murders of nine innocent adivasis in Ganguluru encounter. He was here to attend a day-long convention on 'Telangana-Adivasis- Police Suppression' organised by the Amarula Bandumitrula Sangham. Later speaking to press persons, the Virasam leader demanded immediate steps to stop killings of tribals and those who were fighting for their rights. The State and the Central governments were 'neglecting' the rights of tribal. The same was the case with Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) which enables the Gram Sabhas to self-govern natural resources. He said every political party, including the Left Front in West Bengal, was a guilty of looting of natural wealth in adivasi localities. Civil rights activist Haragopal charged that the 'State' violence against the people has been rising under the influence of imperialist and capitalist forces. Lack of proper development model has been adding to the suppression of people, particularly adivasis living in forests. He alleged that in the recent past State 'repression' has become widespread. He said it was high time a serious view of the issue was taken and remedial measures implemented. The Salwa Judum founder's killing was a natural reaction to the mass murders and rapes he had committed. Prof. Haragopal observed that the media too failed to highlight the plight of tribals who were victims of atrocities committed by Mahendra Karma. Amarula Bandumitrula Sangham state president B Anjamma, secretary Padma, APCLC State secretary Ch Chandrasekhar, APTF leader A Narsimha Reddy, Revolutionary Writers' Forum leader Md. Bhasit were present.