Left delegation calls on President Mukherjee, urges him to reconsider Mines Bill

A Left delegation called on President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, and requested him not to give his approval to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, which was passed by both Houses of the Parliament last month.

"This was the delegation of the Adivasi Adhikaar Rashtra Manch that met the President to request him not to give assent to the bill. The bill deeply affects the adivasi communities in the country, who are protected under the fifth schedule of the constitution, where there is a legal framework to protect their land and community forest resource rights," CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat told ANI.

The delegation termed the passing of the bill as a violation of the constitution and its legal provisions for the tribals living in these areas.

"Without even asking a single representative from any of the mineral-rich districts that are going to be affected, the Select Committee made recommendations and Parliament passed the bill. We requested the President to consider the issues which we have raised in a memorandum and to ask the government not to give consent," she added.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill last month. According to reports, 117 people voted in favour of the bill while 69 opposed it, including the Left and Congress.