Amid mounting criticism and widespread dissent over the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Kerala Congress (M) (KC(M)), a key component of the LDF in central Travancore, is gearing up to take up the matter head-on. Chief Minister
KC(M) president Jose K. Mani, who attended the meeting of the party’s Thiruvananthapuram district committee on Monday, will meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to review the controversial provisions in the bill, party sources informed. The Speaker will be joined by four MLAs from the party, while Water Resources Minister Roshi Augustine will be in Idukki for another programme.
The bill, which aims to amend the Kerala Forest Act, 1961, has created a threat among farmers living on the forest fringes, a key voter base for the KC(M). The party fears the legislation could alienate its core supporters and create significant political challenges. Joseke Mani has already strongly opposed the bill and asked the Chief Minister to intervene before implementing it.
“Section 63 of the proposed amendment, which gives forest officials unchecked powers to arrest without a magistrate’s order or warrant, is particularly problematic,” a senior KC(M) leader pointed out. “This provision essentially empowers forest officials to arrest any farmer without judicial intervention, a move that promotes bureaucratic overreach.”
The move comes at a time when the KC(M) finds itself at a crossroads amid growing internal dissension among party workers disaffected with the LDF alliance. A recent discussion at a district-level leadership camp in Kottayam highlighted these tensions.
Compounding matters is the perceived rift between the Catholic Church and the ruling coalition, fueled by disagreements over various issues, including the Munambam land issue.
However, the party is confident that the state government’s intervention in setting up a judicial commission to look into the case was important. “Similarly, the dissenting stand on the Forest Amendment Bill will also prompt the government to reconsider,” the leader added.
According to the political scenario developed under KC (Maoist) leadership, the pressure to take a political stand is increasing, but he believes that the current political situation is not conducive to making any decision.
published – December 22, 2024 08:40 PM IST