Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will soon visit tribal dominated states to kickoff the party’s agitation against ‘attempts’ by the BJP-led NDA government to ‘dilute’ the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. Congress sources said Gandhi’s visits will largely depend on the monsoon conditions in these states. Congress leaders argued that the UPA government had empowered the tribals and made them “true custodians of forest resources and its produce” by eliminating the nexus between the forest department and private contractors. This could prompt the other state governments to follow the move which in turn will affect the tribals adversely. Buoyed by the impact of its protests in blocking any changes in the Land Acquisition Bill and also forcing the Centre to accept its recommendations in the Real Estate Bill, the Congress is now set to take to corner the Narendra Modi government on the Forest Rights Act.

Source: Hindustan Times May 16, 2016 13:15 UTC