Former Deputy CM threatens hunger strike, highlights illegal deforestation
The village of Badhiyachua in Ambikapur has become a hotspot of controversy due to illegal deforestation and land grabbing by land mafias. Frustrated by the district administration's inaction, former Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo has threatened to go on a hunger strike.
In Badhiyachua village, over 100 acres of land have been illegally deforested and occupied by land mafias. Despite multiple written complaints from the village panchayat’s deputy sarpanch to the district administration and the forest department, no action has been taken so far. When villagers brought the issue to the attention of former Deputy CM TS Singh Deo, he personally visited Badhiyachua to assess the situation and confirmed the illegal occupation of over 100 acres.
TS Singh Deo stated, "If the rightful concerns are not addressed, I will join the villagers in a hunger strike in the coming days. This is against the rules and laws, so action must be taken. What is the point of democracy if the public opinion is ignored? Why let it come to this point?"
Despite the deputy sarpanch’s allegations, the forest department has dismissed the villagers' complaints as false and has not taken any action, further disappointing the villagers. Their hopes now rest on TS Singh Deo, whose threat of a hunger strike may intensify the issue. It remains to be seen how the administration will respond and resolve this dispute.