'Angootha chori': Cong alleges irregularities in gram sabhas' consent for mining in Singrauli

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday flagged the issue of alleged irregularities in obtaining clearances for mining in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli, claiming that "angootha chori" (thumb theft) had taken place under the BJP government with thumb impressions of deceased people used for obtaining consent from 'gram sabhas'. The opposition party demanded a CBI probe into the matter. It claimed that the cases of 'thumb theft' are connected to the 'Singrauli files' where a company linked to Adani is mining in the Dhirauli coal block. There was no immediate reaction from the company or the administration on the charges. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that after "vote chori, seat chori and chanda chori, now 'angootha chori'...With Modi, every theft and loot is possible". "In the Dhirauli coal block of Singrauli, to clear the path for mining by a company linked to Adani, approval from fake gram sabhas is being obtained by using thumb impressions of dead people. Every attempt to crush the rights of tribals in an unconstitutional manner is completely condemnable and unacceptable to us," Ramesh said in a post in Hindi on X. AICC national coordinator of SC, OBC, Minority and Adivasi Departments K Raju said that over the last 12 years of BJP rule, the "devastating reality" of a government "waging a war" against tribal communities, in the name of so-called development, has been witnessed. "When tribals protest peacefully, the BJP government uses the police and the administration to silence their voices. The BJP has chosen to stand with its corporate friends over the constitutional rights of tribal communities," he alleged at a press conference here along with Adivasi Congress chief Vikrant Bhuria. Raju said the UPA government enacted the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and the Resettlement Act, 2013, which clearly states that in scheduled areas, tribal land cannot be acquired without the consent of the tribal communities. However, no such process is followed, Raju claimed. Bhuria alleged that under the BJP government, every kind of "fraud is possible", and after "vote chori, seat chori and chanda chori, now 'angootha chori' has taken place". "In this theft, identity is stolen and dead people were brought back to life...These cases of 'thumb theft' are connected to the 'Singrauli Files', where a company linked to Adani is mining in the Dhirauli coal block. Not obtaining the consent of gram sabhas is a violation of the Forest Rights Act and the PESA law. "However, in such cases, fake gram sabhas were created, and with fake thumbs, permission was obtained, and mining is being carried out rampantly," Bhuria alleged. "I am placing some RTI documents and death certificates of individuals. These documents prove how thumb impressions of deceased people were used to propose resolutions in gram sabhas. Take a look at some examples -- Brij Bhan Singh Ji passed away in 2014, but permission was taken from him in 2021; Fuleshwari Singh Ji passed away in 2018, consent was taken from her in 2021; Jag Bandhan Singh Gond Ji passed away in 2015, but his thumb impression was taken in 2021," he claimed. Apart from these, there is another example -- Sumaru Singh and Sonmati Singh -- who had come to Delhi to meet the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi with a delegation against the Singrauli coal block, but their thumb impressions are also present in the gram sabha resolution, he said, adding that both of them are literate and sign but their thumb impressions have been put. Tribal rights are being snatched away through "fake gram sabhas", Bhuria alleged. Putting forward the demands of the Congress, Bhuria said a CBI investigation into "thumb theft and fraud related to fake gram sabhas" should be initiated. There should be action against companies and officials involved in this "fraud" and a ban on mining be placed there until claims are verified, Bhuria said. PTI ASK ASK DV DV