Ready to shed blood, Kerala bishop warns strong protest over buffer zone

Kozhikode: While addressing a protest rally of farmers at Koorachundu village in Kozhikode, regarding the proposal of buffer zones, Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil of the Thamarassery diocese, said that they would not give in before the government.

"For those who have sweated it out in the soil, have no reservations to shed blood. The farmers in the hills had not surrendered before malaria in the past. Hence, we are not going to yield before the government on the buffer zone issue," he said.

Regarding the direction of the Supreme Court to states, that all eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) including national parks and wild life sanctuaries should have a 1 km buffer zone from their boundaries, a satellite survey report was released last week identifying various structures and habitats that would fall within the speculated buffer zone around 22 protected forest regions in the state.

The Catholic Church along with the Opposition in the state is set to stage strong protests against the move. The Church had organised farmers protest in the hilly areas of Kerala against the survey report.

The Opposition is also joining hands with the protestors as Congress is all set to stage a massive rally in Koorachundu village of Kozhikode. Ramesh Chennithala the leader of the Opposition will address the meeting on Tuesday.

Previously, Bishop Inchananiyil's remark went controversial in a similar protest against the Kasthurirangan committee report, in which he threatened to repeat Jallianwala Bagh, if the government implements the report.

Meanwhile the left led government is setting up a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue.