New Delhi: Continuing the continuing uproar over the Great Nicobar Project, Congress MP Manikam Tagore wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, demanding his immediate intervention to protect the constitutional and legal rights of Nicobis tribes, which was “threatened” by the 722,000-Corres Infrastructure Scheme. He urged the PM to direct tribal affairs and the Union Ministries of Environment and Jungle, so that an independent review of this process could be done to give forest approval in Nicobar and remove forest land.In his letter, Tagore said that the Andaman and Nicobar administration have falsely claimed that the rights of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) were “identified and settled before the forest approval was given for the turn of 13,075 hectares of forest land. He said that the tribal council of Great Nicobar has clearly rejected the administration’s claim and termed the claim as direct violation of the FRA, 2006.The Congress MP urged Modi to suspend the project until the laws are complied, and to ensure that the forest rights of the tribal communities are fully recognized before the land turn. He also demanded that the authorities be held accountable for “wrong bayani”.Arguing that Nicobaris community is one of the weakest groups in India and historically preserved under the preservation of tribal tribes, 1956, Tagore said, “The strength of our democracy lies in protecting the rights of the weakest. The voice of Nicobaris should be heard in the true soul of justice, honored”.
