Close on the heels of attacks on forest department personnel conducting afforestation drive in the state, BJP Telangana MP Soyam Bapu Rao has asked tribals to "beat up" and "drive away" forest staff who take up plantation on 'podu' lands.
Rao asked the adivasis to uproot the saplings planted in 'podu' lands under the 'Haritha Haram' plantation project.
He was addressing a programme to mark the death anniversary of tribal leader and Hakkula Porata Samithi (Tudum Debba) founder Siddam Shambu at Utnoor mandal on Saturday. "Obstruct plantation works by forest officials in podu lands and uproot the saplings planted by them.
If required beat them up I will take care of you. Need not worry about forest staff," Rao is seen saying in a video.
Telangana government's flagship programme, 'Haritha Haram', is a massive afforestation drive featuring planting of crores of saplings to increase the green cover of the state.
The BJP leader said he has made a representation to the Union Tribal Minister and National Tribal Commission over protection of Adivasis rights.
Alleging that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was trying to suppress Adivasis, he said, "Adivasis and Tudum Debba workers have to be alert and fight against his (CM) plans."
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