Amrabad incident assumes political colour

Vijayashanti and Chada Venkat Reddy criticise State government for attack on Chenchus by forest department personnel

The incident of alleged attack on tribals by the Forest Department personnel in Amrabad Tiger Reserve is assuming political significance in view of the by-elections to Nagarjunasagar constituency. With considerable tribal population in the constituency and the BJP candidate P. Ravi Kumar Naik representing the Banjara/Lambada tribe, it is no wonder that BJP leader Vijayashanti spewed fire against the State government for the “attack”. CPI State secretary Chada Venkat Reddy too jumped the bandwagon, and condemned the “attack on Chenchus”, and spoke for their right to collect forest produce. However, contrary to Mr. Venkat Reddy’s assertion, the tribals alleging attack by forest officials belonged to Banjara community and not Chenchu.