BJP MP asks tribals to beat forest officials if they plant sapling on their land

Soyam Bapu Rao, BJP MLA from Adilabad asked tribals in the area to beat forest official if they try to plant saplings on your land. "I will protect your rights," he assured them while speaking at a function.

Adilabad (Telangana):Asking tribals not to allow forest officials to plant saplings on their land, BJP MP from Adilabad in Telangana, Soyam Bapu Rao, has said they should
uproot the same and thrash the officials if need be.

"If Forest Department officials come to take over your Podu (form of shifting cultivation) lands and plant sapling, stop them. If needed beat them up and uproot the saplings which are planted by them, I will see what will happen," said Rao while attending an event organised to mark death anniversary tribal leader and Tudum Debba founder Siddam Shambu at Utnoor Mandal on Saturday.

Soyam Bapu Rao

"We were always fighting for our rights and there are many cases pending on us. We should fight against the government for our tribal rights. There is no need to worry because I will fight for your rights," he added.

His statement comes amid the afforestation drive being carried out by forest department personnel in the state.

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