Inspired by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, civil society groups in Bengaluru have compiled a list of brands accused of supporting the ongoing “war against Adivasis” in Bastar. The initiative aims to raise awareness about corporations allegedly contributing to the displacement and repression of indigenous communities.
On Saturday, demonstrators gathered at Freedom Park to voice their concerns over atrocities faced by indigenous populations across India. The protest, organized by the Karnataka People’s Forum Against War on Adivasis (KPFAWA), featured slogans condemning violence from Bastar to Manipur, Kashmir, Ladakh, and beyond.
“Despite constitutional protections and laws mandating Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for local communities, the government has repeatedly neglected the rights of Adivasis and other indigenous groups,” a statement from the KPFAWA noted. It criticized the Indian government for prioritizing corporate interests over environmental concerns and the rights of indigenous people as outlined in the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA). Recent examples of state repression, highlighted in their statement, included the development of the Honnavar Port and the suppression of protests in Ladakh.
Heavy police presence characterized the protest, where attendees raised concerns about various mining and corporate projects imposed on indigenous lands, especially in Central India. Protesters also expressed opposition to Operation Kagaar, alleging that civilians are being killed under the pretext of combatting Maoism.
Speaking to Maktoob, Shwerick, a member of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), remarked, “The war on Adivasis in Bastar is fueled by corporate agendas, particularly in mining driven by industrial greed.” He explained that he researched who had bid on mining plots and identified major investors to create the list of implicated companies. According to Shwerick, not all companies listed are directly involved in mining, but they are linked to the industry through their business operations.
He emphasized the importance of raising awareness and encouraged peaceful campaigns against the identified brands. The list of corporations with direct ties to mining in Bastar includes: Adani, Aditya Birla, Ashok Leyland, Maruti, Nissan, Wipro, Vedanta, Tata Steel, Reliance, Mahindra, and Starbucks, among others.
The original article was published on Maktoob media.
Tags: Bengaluru civil society, BDS-inspired, corporates investing, mining projects, Bastar
Hashtags: #Bengaluru #civil #society #releases #BDSinspired #list #corporates #investing #mining #projects #Bastar
