Gujrat: Tribals from around villages of Statue of Unity stage protest
Rajpipla (Guj): Hundreds of tribals from 14 villages in the vicinity of the Statue of Unity on Sunday formed human chains and held posters and placards demanding that the Gujarat government stop taking away their lands in the name of development.
It was on this day in 2007 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The protesters, from 50 tribal-dominated talukas spread over 16 districts in the eastern part of the state, sought cancellation of the recently-enacted Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Act, which empowers the government to acquire land in the villages for development projects around the SoU, the tallest structure of its kind in the world.
The protest, organised by the Adivasi Samanvay Manch, was peaceful, said activist Praful Vasava, who claimed the state government was forcibly acquiring land, in the process displacing tribals, and posing grave danger to indigenous culture.
"We demand that the government grant us rights under the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act," he said.
Narmada district Superintendent of Police Himkar Singh said the event near the SoU was part of similar ones held in other areas of the state by tribals to mark the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Day.
"It was organised all over the district and other parts of Gujarat. They wanted to present their point. They just came out of their houses on the road to protest and they did so peacefully," he said.
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Aurangzebpur now Shivaji Nagar as eleven places renamed in Uttarakhand: CM Dhami
Dehradun (PTI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday announced renaming of 11 places in Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
The 11 places will be renamed after Hindu deities, icons, mythological characters and prominent BJP and RSS leaders.
"The names of various places are being changed in accordance with public sentiment and Indian culture and heritage. They are being named after great men who contributed to the Indian culture and its preservation," Dhami said.
As per the CM's announcement Aurangzebpur in Haridwar will be renamed Shivaji Nagar, Gajiwali will be changed to Arya Nagar, Chandpur to Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Mohammadpur Jat to Mohanpur Jat, Khanpur to Shri Krishnapur, Khanpur Kursali to Ambedkar Nagar, Idrishpur to Nandpur and Akbarpur Fajalpur to Vijaynagar.
In Dehradun district, Miyanwala will be changed to Ramjiwala, Pirwala to Kesari Nagar, Chandpur Khurd to Prithviraj Nagar and Abdullapur to Dakshnagar.
Similarly, Nawabi Road in Nainital district will be renamed Atal Marg and Panchakki-ITI Marg to Guru Golwalkar Marg.
Sultanpur Patti in Udham Singh Nagar distrct will be changed to Kaushalyapuri.
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