Karnataka Deputy Speaker, Rudrappa Lamani, was visibly emotional during a Zilla Panchayat meeting near Devagiri village in Haveri district. He highlighted the distress of villagers facing eviction from forest lands, with FIRs filed against them and many forced out of their homes. Lamani revealed that residents of multiple villages, including Guttal Tanda and Karur, are grappling with similar challenges.
He expressed frustration over authorities claiming reserved forest status for areas where villagers have resided for generations. Despite government support in the past, the forest department is now pushing for evictions, prompting Lamani to seek intervention from Union Ministers and MPs. He criticized the issuance of eviction orders from distant offices and urged for a compassionate approach towards affected communities.
Lamani emphasized the need for land rights for marginalized residents, citing arbitrary actions by the forest department. He questioned the fairness of denying ‘patta’ documents to those entitled to land ownership, leading to widespread injustice. The Deputy Speaker called for a democratic solution, urging lawmakers to address the plight of vulnerable populations facing displacement across the country.
