*YSRCP will not compromise on Tribal Rights: YS Jagan*

Tadepalli, August 6: Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy reaffirmed that the party would never compromise on protecting tribal laws and the rights of Adivasis. He directed the YSRCP ST Cell to emerge as a strong public voice for tribal communities and firmly oppose every government action that undermines their constitutional and legal safeguards.

YSRCP ST Cell State President and former Paderu MLA Kottagulli Bhagyalakshmi, along with Dr. Tamarba Narsing Rao, Plains Area ST Cell President Surendra and ST Cell State General Secretary Srinivas Naik, met YS Jagan at the party’s Central Office on Thursday. They conveyed greetings ahead of World Indigenous Peoples’ Day and presented him with a memento.

During the meeting, the leaders briefed YS Jagan on the protection of tribal laws, restoration of G.O. No. 3, cases filed by non-tribals concerning the 1/70 Act, permissions for bauxite mining and growing concerns among tribal communities over hydroelectric power projects. After a detailed discussion, YS Jagan assured them that the YSRCP would stand firmly with Adivasis and protect their interests.

He asked the ST Cell to remind people that the previous YSRCP Government had repealed G.O. No. 97, introduced during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure, and safeguarded tribal rights. He said the coalition government must be warned that no action weakening tribal laws or rights would be tolerated.

YS Jagan observed that serious apprehension had developed among Adivasis over the safety of their rights under the coalition government. The strong public response to the recent youth-led movement reflected this growing concern. He directed Bhagyalakshmi and other ST Cell leaders to continuously mobilise public opinion, fight on behalf of tribal communities and never retreat in confronting the government over violations of Adivasi rights.