Congress Accuses Tribal Affairs Ministry of Yielding to 'Modani' Pressure

The Congress party has accused the Ministry of Tribal Affairs of abdicating its responsibility, alleging that its position on forest land diversion is being shaped by what it terms 'Modani' pressure. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised the question of whether mining interests are now dictating the Centre's stance on a key provision of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

At the heart of the dispute is the government's assertion that there is no provision in the FRA requiring Gram Sabha consent for the diversion of forest land for other purposes. Ramesh has countered this claim by pointing to specific rules and guidelines under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), which he argues clearly mandate such consent.

By invoking these legal instruments, the Congress leader is challenging the Ministry's interpretation, suggesting that the denial of a consent requirement contradicts existing regulatory frameworks. The accusation implies that the Ministry is not upholding its mandate to protect tribal rights, instead succumbing to external pressures, particularly from industrial and mining lobbies.

The development marks a sharp political confrontation over the interpretation of tribal land rights and forest governance, with the opposition seeking to hold the government accountable for what it sees as a dilution of protective measures for indigenous communities.