BVM agitators back Tata Bastar project

The Tata Steel plan to set up a plant in Bastar region was now being supported by a group called the Bastar Vikas Manch (BVM).

Violent BVM protestors prevented Communist Party of India (CPI) members from entering Bastar on December 29, where they were scheduled to address a rally in protest against the Tata plant. BVM was led by BJP Member of Parliament (MP) from Bastar, Baliram Kashyap.

CPI national secretary and MP Gurudas Dasgupta along with other communist leaders had to face BVM's fury when they tried to enter Bastar.

BVM groups blocked Dasgupta's convoy at different places on national highway (NH-43) between Raipur and Bastar.

As the convoy reached Keshkal, the gateway of Bastar, BVM protesters showed black flags to Dasgupta and staged a road blockade.

Security personnel managed to get the road cleared and the convoy moved on, only to be obstructed near Bhanpuri, a few kilometres away from Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of Bastar. In Bhanpuri, BVM staged a dharna on the road and asked Dasgupta to return.

A number of heavy vehicles were parked on the road to stop the convoy.

Dasgupta then returned to Raipur in the evening.

This was the first time BVM came out in the streets in support of the proposed Tata plant near Lohandiguda area envisaging investment of more than Rs 10,000 crore. The Bastar district administration under the BJP state government backed the BVM move to support the plant.

Officials were perplexed by the movement against the plant.

Villagers had earlier given their land after protest and collected compensation.

Under communist leaders, people were now demanding return of their land.

The state administration had acquired 775.22 hectare and paid compensation of Rs 30 crore to villagers. In all, 1357 villagers holding 1414.18 hectare would be affected by Tata's 5 million ton per annum (mtpa) greenfield integrated steel plant to come up in 2160.58 hectares.

BVM leaders warned they would take their movement ahead to ensure the Tata plant was set up in the area.

"We would not allow Bastar to become Nandigram," BVM chairman Baliram Kashyap warned.

He said no leader from outside would be allowed to enter Bastar to interfere in matters of local people.

Dasgupta said on December 30 that he would raise the issue in the Lok Sabha as the BJP MP and activists had "attacked" him while he was going to lead a peaceful agitation against the Tata project in Bastar.