Hazaribagh: Former agriculture minister Yogendra Saw and Congress national secretary Amba Prasad met the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi on Friday and raised concerns over alleged injustice faced by displaced families in Barkagaon due to mining activities.Saw had launched an agitation against the NTPC in Barkagaon, disrupting mining operations and resulting in loss of several crores to govt and the public sector company.During the meeting, the two leaders presented Gandhi with jaggery and flaxseed (tisi) produced in Barkagaon, describing them as a symbol of the region’s soil, farmers’ hard work and the ongoing struggle to protect jal, jangal and jameen (water, forest and land).Saw and Prasad discussed issues related to displacement caused by major mining and power projects in Jharkhand, including those of NTPC, Adani Group, Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL). They alleged that the affected families were facing injustice, inadequate compensation and lapses in the rehabilitation measures.The leaders stressed the need for strict implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, stating that its provisions were being ignored in several cases.Quoting Rahul Gandhi, the two leaders said the Congress leader expressed concern and reiterated that the land acquisition law was enacted during the Congress-led govt to safeguard people’s rights and assured support in the fight for justice for displaced families. Saw and Prasad also urged Gandhi to consider holding a public hearing in the region to directly interact with the displaced families.Gandhi assured them that he would personally look into the matter and, if necessary, visit Jharkhand to assess the situation on the ground. Both leaders from the state said they would continue their efforts until displaced families receive due compensation, rehabilitation and respect.
