Stir against Posco to intensify from Jan 26: Agnivesh

OST Bureau

Derabish, Jan 20:

The movement opposing Posco’s Rs 52,000 crore steel project near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district will be further intensified nationwide from Gadakujang, Govindpur, Dhinkia to New Delhi from January 26, said social activist Swami Agnivesh on Sunday.

The social activist made the announcement while speaking to newsmen when he was at Kaudapada under Derabish block on Sunday to attend a spiritual conference of holy men of all religions. He questioned newsmen on the propriety of the UPA government according environment clearance to the Posco project while it was yet to get forest clearance. He said the constitution of the country has granted rightful claim to the locals on forests, land and mines and questioned as to how environment clearance was given to the project without taking approval of the local panchayat and the local people.

As Posco officials, the Centre and the State government were indifferent to the needs and concerns of all stakeholders in environment, forest, bio-diversity and river protection, the agitation against the project will be intensified from January 26 at the national level, said Swami Agnivesh.

While disclosing that he was born in Brahmapur in Odisha, the social activist said he would lead agitations against the government whenever the state curtails/affects the fundamental rights of anyone from the state.

The agitation against Posco will continue to be led by Abhaya Sahu, president of the Posco Sangram Samiti in Odisha in the state while he would intensify the agitation at the national level in Delhi after holding talks with national leaders, he added.