Madikeri: Coffee grower Nanda Subbaiah has said that two persons, Appaji and Muttamma, have collected money from tribals and have distributed 90% of the amount to some leftist organisations in connection with Diddalli issue.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday, she said the organisations who have been conducting the protests, are not worried about the welfare of the tribals. Their aim is to disturb the peace in the society and to cause harm to coffee growers, she said.
The real tribals have not been supporting the protests. Most of the tribals taking part in the protests are from outside the districts. Some of them have been mingling with the organisations and have been misguiding the innocent people. Coffee growers in the district are not harassing the tribals in line houses. Line houses were meant for providing accommodation to them. Coffee industry has not assaulted the aboriginals.
In reality, radical organisations have made the tribals as scapegoats, she said. Only the people from Jenukuruba and Arebhashe communities have been dwelling in Devamacchi Forest area from a long time. Investigation should be conducted as how 577 families came to the area. One must think whether it is possible for Chennaiahnakote gram panchayat to provide sites and other basic facilities to 577 families.
Maldare gram panchayat vice president and tribal leader S M Raju said that only 40 tribal families and 38 families from other communities have been dwelling traditionally in Tattalli-Diddalli. Others have illegally infiltrated into the forest. The traditional forest dwellers follow the forest rights act and there are committees in the village-level.
If the illegal dwellers are given sites, the real aboriginals will have to carry out serious fights, he added.
Maldare gram panchayat president Rani, former member Yatish, coffee growers Kunhappa and T N Ganesh were present at the press meet.