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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribal outcry forces govt to put tiger corridor GO on hold
Hyderabad: In a U-turn, Telangana govt on Monday put govt order (GO) 49 in abeyance following protests from tribals, opposition parties, and even voices within the Congress. The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalize a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra. Amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the state govt was compelled to retract. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy. "The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest. Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal. Widespread Resistance and Fear of Eviction The GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader, Godam Ganesh, said the corridor will adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacements. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo A bandh called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. CPI and CPM functionaries also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land. The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in the affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and is an ex-Maoist herself, questioned the letter's authenticity, but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities. "The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said. Ecological Significance of the Corridor The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. Apart from tigers, it supports leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture. According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the last decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals. Conservationists Disappointed at Policy Reversal While tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter. "The decision to keep Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS, said. "Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said. Efforts by forest officers to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions are planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy may be revisited after further consultations. A senior forest officer told TOI: "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments on forest land."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribal outcry forces govt to put GO on tiger corridor in abeyance
Hyderabad: In a U-turn, the Telangana govt on Monday put govt order (GO) 49 in abeyance following protests from tribals, opposition parties, and even voices within the ruling Congress. The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalise a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra. However, amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages, and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the govt was compelled to retract. The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy. "The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest. Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," forest minister Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal. Widespread Resistance and Fear of EvictionThe GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader Godam Ganesh said the corridor would adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacement. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said. A bandh, called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad CPI and CPM leaders also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land. The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on minister Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and was an ex-Maoist herself, dismissed the letter's authenticity but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities. "The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said. Ecological Significance of the Corridor The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. It supports not only tigers but also leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture. According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the past decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals. Conservationists Disappointed at Policy ReversalWhile tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter. "The decision to keep the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," said Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS. "Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said. Efforts by forest officials to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions were planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy might be revisited after further consultations. A senior forest official told TOI, "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments of forest land. "
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Azizul Haque (1942-2025): He was the face of 1970s Naxalbari movement, believed in ‘power grows out of gun barrel'
Veteran Naxalite leader and one of the faces of the 1970s Naxalbari movement, Azizul Haque, passed away on Monday. He was 83. Haque, who had been suffering from ailments related to old age, was admitted to a private hospital in Salt Lake after a fall at home left him with a fractured hand. He passed away around 2:30 pm, sources said. Expressing her condolences, Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee on her 'X' handle said, ' 'I express my deep condolences on the passing of veteran politician Azizul Haque. Azizul Haque was a militant, struggling leader. He never bowed his head in his long political career. My deepest condolences to his bereaved family and associates.' A poet, political thinker and once the head of the CPI(ML)'s second central committee, Azizul Haque was born in 1942 in Ranmahal village in Howrah. Born to a huge zamindari family, Haque gave up his share of the land as a show of his political ideology. He arrived in Kolkata to study under the guidance of Nandgopal Bhattacharya. While studying with Nandgopal, Azizul met the communist leader Vishwanath Mukhopadhyay, which led to his involvement in the leftist movement. Azizul belonged to the generation of Naxal leaders who believed that 'Bonduker nol-i, khomotar utsa' ( Political power grows out of the barrel of the gun) a concept was popularised by their ideological mentor, Charu Mazumdar, in India during the sixties and seventies. At just 17 years old, Azizul joined the undivided Communist Party. He got injured while participating in the food movement procession. Although Jyoti Basu became closely associated with the mass movement, Azizul opposed Basu's political stance and accepted Charu Mazumdar as his leader. A close associate of Charu Mazumdar and Kanai Chatterjee, Haque was a key figure in sustaining the Naxalbari uprising long after it was suppressed. Expelled from CPI(M) for endorsing Mazumdar's radical views, he co-founded the CPI(ML)'s Second Central Committee with Nishith Bhattacharya after the latter's death. Together, they attempted to establish parallel revolutionary governments in rural Bengal and Bihar during the late 1970s, but were expelled following a ceasefire with the West Bengal government. First arrested in the Parvathipuram conspiracy case in 1970, Haque spent nearly two decades in prison, with his re-arrest in 1982 prompting outrage even within the ruling Left Front, leading to calls for his parole from jail ministers. His book Karagare Atharo Bochor (Eighteen Years in Jail) is a poignant account of the Naxalite movement and ideological perseverance. While his later writings, such as 'Naxalbari: Tirish Bochor Aage ebong Pare', ( Naxalbari: 30 years before and after) continued to critique establishment thinking. Notably, he supported the CPI(M)'s industrialisation drive in Singur in 2006, distancing himself from many of his former comrades who opposed land acquisition. 'Leftism is to walk against the current,' he often said, and till the end, his pen remained active-contributing columns and essays to leading dailies and journals, always with a streak of rebellion.
The Star
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia's low inflation expected to persist
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's inflation rate is expected to remain low, with economists projecting the headline rate to hold at just 1.2% in June 2025. This expectation comes ahead of the Statistics Department's release of the consumer price index (CPI) data for June, due later today. Recall that Malaysia recorded an inflation rate of 1.2% in May 2025, marking the lowest level in 51 months, with the CPI rising to 134.4 from 132.8 a year earlier. As for June, seven of the 16 economists polled by Bloomberg are expecting CPI to grow by 1.2% year-on-year, suggesting continued softness in price pressures amid a relatively stable cost environment. Speaking to StarBiz, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid expects the headline inflation rate to remain unchanged from May, supported by minimal policy-driven price pressure and a stronger ringgit. 'Policy changes in respect to tax and subsidies have been quite measured. 'The appreciation of the ringgit also helped to contain the imported price appreciation,' he explained. On the anticipated RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation, Mohd Afzanizam believes the impact will be manageable if implemented through a targeted approach. 'It really depends on the mechanism. 'I suppose targeted subsidies would limit the impact, and we have seen how cash assistance such as the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah initiative has been disbursed via MyKad successfully,' he said. 'As such, the impact from the RON95 subsidy rationalisation is expected to be manageable,' he added. The RON95 targeted subsidy was supposed to be implemented in the second half of this year. However, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced yesterday that the implementation has been slightly delayed due to the need for a more detailed review of the mechanism. This delay provides a short reprieve from price pressures, as it was previously expected that a targeted fuel subsidy would raise the country's inflation. Mohd Afzanizam also said the recent 25-basis-point cut in the overnight policy rate (OPR) to 2.75% is unlikely to trigger inflationary pressure. 'The context for the OPR adjustment was to stimulate the economy preemptively in light of possible shocks from the US tariffs from Aug 1. 'On that note, we do not think the OPR decision can be inflationary,' he said, adding that the current low inflation rate provides Bank Negara room to ease policy. In a monetary policy statement, Bank Negara projected average inflation of between 2% and 3.5% in 2025. Additionally, the inflation outlook remains subject to global commodity prices, domestic policy changes and exchange rate developments. Sharing a similar view on price stability, Socio-Economic Research Centre executive director Lee Heng Guie also expects inflation to hold steady at 1.2% in June. However, he said recent tax reforms may gradually raise price levels in the coming months. 'The expanded sales and service tax (SST) will have a small direct impact on the CPI in July as essential items remain SST-exempt,' he said. Lee added that while the direct price effect will be limited, the tax expansion may have indirect consequences on costs. 'There will be an indirect impact by increasing the cost of production and ultimately affecting the prices of goods and services,' he said. He estimated that the SST expansion will likely add around 0.25 percentage points to the overall inflation rate in 2025. On the subsidy front, Lee views the upcoming RON95 fuel subsidy reform as a potential inflation variable, though he expects the impact to be contained. 'The impending implementation of RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation remains a wild card, though 85% of total households will not be impacted,' he said. Regarding monetary policy, Lee believes the recent OPR cut is unlikely to change short-term inflation dynamics. 'The rate adjustment is more about supporting growth than containing inflation,' he said. Meanwhile, economist Geoffrey Williams expects inflation to remain low for the rest of the year, backed by modest domestic demand and the absence of major cost shocks. 'Headline inflation has been below 2% since July 2023 and fell to 1.2% in May. 'There have been no particularly inflationary issues during the year. 'So, we expect inflation to remain low, around 1.2% to 1.4%, in June,' he said. Looking ahead, he anticipates only a modest uptick in price levels in the second half of the year (2H25). 'For 2H25, there may be some uptick in inflation, but overall it will remain low, between 1.5% and 2%,' he said. Williams said the central bank's decision to lower interest rates will not have a major inflationary effect. 'The cut in OPR is accommodating growth risks but should not add to inflation,' he said. He also noted that the inflationary impact of subsidy reform may be deferred. 'The RON95 subsidy rationalisation has now been delayed, so this effect will be pushed forward,' he stated. On the SST, Williams believes the impact on prices will depend on how businesses respond. 'The SST changes should not add too much to inflation unless businesses pass on costs to consumers. 'So people should be vigilant and avoid products from companies passing on costs unnecessarily,' he said. Williams also offered a more optimistic outlook on the full-year inflation trajectory compared to the central bank's projection. 'The official forecast of 2% to 3.5% for the full year is pessimistic, and it is likely that the full-year outcome will be closer to 2% or below,' he added.
The Star
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Double-digit growth possible with reforms
HANOI: At the government's online conference with provincial authorities, the Finance Ministry presents two scenarios. The first scenario targets an annual growth rate of 8% in 2025. Under this projection, if GDP (gross domestic product) growth in the third quarter (3Q25) reaches 8.3% y-o-y, in line with the trajectory outlined in Resolution 154, and 4Q25 growth hits 8.5% – 0.1 percentage point higher than the base scenario, Vietnam's GDP would exceed US$508bil by the end of the year, with per capita GDP surpassing US$5,000. Key growth drivers for the second half of the year (2H25) under this scenario include total realised investment across the economy at roughly US$108bil, retail sales and consumer service revenue (at current prices) growing by at least 12%, and total import-export turnover for 2025 rising by 16% or more. The average consumer price index (CPI) is expected to remain within the 4.5% to 5% range. In the second and more ambitious scenario, which the ministry recommended, the economy's annual GDP is projected to grow between 8.3% to 8.5%. This would require 3Q25 growth of 8.9% to 9.2% y-o-y, 0.6 to 0.9 percentage points higher than in the first scenario, and 4Q25 growth of 9.1% to 9.5%, or 0.7 to 1.1 percentage points above the base case. Under this trajectory, Vietnam's GDP would exceed US$510bil by the end of 2025, with per capita GDP reaching over US$5,020. The main growth levers in this scenario include total realised investment of approximately US$111bil, retail and consumer service turnover rising by at least 13%, and import-export value growing by 17% or more. CPI projections remain unchanged at an average of 4.5% to 5%. According to the ministry, alongside capitalising on market opportunities to boost consumption and exports, investment remains the key engine of growth – one that still holds considerable room for expansion. Stronger investment inflows in the 2H25 are expected to not only elevate growth in the short term but also lay the foundation for new productive capacity, creating space for the economy to achieve growth of 10% or more in 2026. In the 1H25, GDP rose 7.52%, the strongest first-half performance since 2011. Exports increased 14.4% to US$219.83bil. Registered foreign direct investment reached over US$21.5bil, up 32.6% y-o-y, according to the General Statistics Office. 'These results showed that Vietnam is moving 'against the wind', maintaining strong momentum,' said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung. 'If we do not adopt new steps or bold approaches, we will never reach these goals,' Dung added. Despite impressive gains, Vietnam has never achieved double-digit growth. Its long-term average remains around 6.4%. Structural challenges, particularly in productivity and institutional effectiveness, continue to constrain progress. Dr Nguyen Si Dung, former deputy head of the National Assembly Office, described the situation as a strategic turning point. 'The world is changing rapidly – climate change, digital transformation, geopolitical disputes. Countries that adapt quickly and reform their institutions will rise. Those that hesitate will be left behind,' said Nguyen. Vietnam's labour productivity growth is a case in point. According to Dr Dang Duc Anh, deputy director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, average productivity rose from 4.53% (2011 to 2015) to 6.05% (2016 to 2020), but dropped again to 4.67% in the 2021 to 2024 period. 'The pace of improvement is slowing. Our application of science, technology and innovation remains limited,' Duc Anh added. Emerging sectors such as clean energy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced materials remain underdeveloped. Meanwhile, traditional drivers, like low-cost manufacturing, are losing momentum. The economy still relies heavily on assembly and raw processing, while high-value segments like design and research and development remain weak. 'These structural weaknesses, if not addressed decisively, will weigh down Vietnam's ambitions,' said Duc Anh. Institutional reform is widely seen as the cornerstone of a new growth phase. 'Institutions are the operating system of the economy,' said Nguyen Si Dung. 'Short-term growth can come from capital or labour. But sustainable, innovative growth depends on transparent, effective, and fair institutions.' He argued that Vietnam must begin with a mindset shift, adding: 'Reform is not just about passing laws. It's about building a governance system that is strategic and adaptive.' From the business community, Dau Anh Tuan, deputy secretary general of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasised two priorities: shift from pre-approval to post-audit governance and improve policy execution. 'If growth targets are tied to local officials' key performance indicators, we will see clearer progress, even in the short term,' Tuan said The energy sector shows this. According to Vu Tu Thanh of the US-Asean Business Council, Vietnam should remove capacity quotas in its power plan and allow direct power purchase agreements across clean energy sources. 'This would unlock investment and strengthen energy security,' he said. Vu Tu added that Vietnam has the potential to lead growth in South-East Asia. But to realise that potential, it must move decisively. Double-digit growth is within reach, but only if reform keeps pace with ambition. — Viet Nam News/ANN
