Gandhian activist Himanshu Kumar has alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is expanding its presence in the Abujhmad region of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division following a crackdown on Adivasi communities opposing the exploitation of their land and natural resources.
In a note referring to a photograph of an RSS parade in Abujhmad, Kumar, known for his activism among tribal communities in Chhattisgarh, claimed that the region’s resources were being brought under the control of corporate interests, contractors and people associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Describing Abujhmad as a forested and mountainous region that remained largely unexplored for a long time, Kumar said outsiders had traditionally been prohibited from entering the area without government permission. He alleged that this situation had changed with the entry of commercial interests seeking control over the region’s jal, jangal, zameen (water, forests and land).
“After crushing every form of dissent, Amit Shah has now filled the entire region with RSS goons,” Kumar wrote, alleging that these elements were working with commercial interests to extract coal and iron ore from the region and sell the resources to foreign companies for profit.
He argued that the campaign against Naxalism was intended not only to target armed insurgency but also to suppress opposition among Adivasi communities and facilitate corporate access to the region’s natural resources.
Kumar called on the Adivasi population of Bastar to launch a mass movement against what he described as the exploitation of their homeland by the RSS and corporate interests. He urged communities to resist the appropriation of their land and resources and demand an end to the alleged activities.
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