Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar should stop fighting for power in Karnataka: Brinda Karat

The Adivasi Aakrosh Manch is fighting for implementing a pro-tribal law. The Aakrosh rally is to fight for tribals’ right to live with dignity and protect their constitutional rights, she said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and vice-president of Adivasi Aakrosh Manch Brinda Karat alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar are fighting each other for power. “They should stop their ‘nakli kushti’ (fake wrestling) and focus on development of oppressed tribal groups and address other burning issues of Karnataka, she said.

Speaking at Adivasi Aakrosh rally in Mangaluru on January 23, Ms. Karat said Congress has come to power in Karnataka with the votes of Koragas and other like-minded people. But so far the Congress government has done nothing to end oppression of Koragas and tribal communities. “Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar are fighting among themselves for power. You both are wasting your energy. Stop this nakli kushti.”

Ms. Karat said the manch has started the real kushti to preserve rights of Koragas and other oppressed communities. “This is a most powerful movement and we will stop only when rights of tribal groups are fulfilled,” she said. The manch will keep a close eye on the Union and the Karnataka budgets for 2025-26 to ensure allocation for development of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).

There are 75 PVTGs, comprising 10.5 lakh households, living in 2,870 places in India. In Karnataka, Koragas and Jenu Kurubas are the two recognised PVTGs, and they number 62,000. Koragas, whose population is 16,000, are the most oppressed among the PVTGs.

With falling birth rate and infant mortality rate, the population of Koragas is coming down. “Two decades ago, Koragas were 20,000 in number. The figure has now come down to 16,000. I am told the number might further drop to 12,000. Because of wrong policies and programmes, this community is slowly moving towards extinction,” she said.

Over the years, the constitutional rights of Koragas continue to be violated by the Union and State governments. Though the Constitution has banned untouchability, Koragas continue to be victims of untouchability with the prevalence of practices namely ajalu. “The BJP continues to support socially regressive practices in the guise of protection of ancient culture. Koragas should get compensation for historic injustice meted out to them.”

She said Korags are affected by malnutrition. They lack access to education and healthcare facilities. Ms. Karat said the LDF government in Kerala is running a programme to supply nutritious food at doorstep of tribal households. In November 2024, the Kerala government identified 530 Koraga families living in 15 villages in Kasaragod district, and granted a total of 193.5 hectares of land.