Karnataka: Virtual climbdown! Muththamma off tree

Mysuru: Tribal leader Muththamma, who had climbed up a tree in Diddalli in protest against the government Thursday morning, came down after Revenue Minister, Kagodu Thimmappa spoke to her on the  phone and promised to fulfill the tribals’ demands.

She also  decided to withdraw the protest temporarily after Kodagu Deputy Commissioner, Richard D Souza visited the  tribals during the day.

But the tribal people refused to remove the  250 new tents  they put up Tuesday night in the reserve forest area they were evicted from in December last year. In fact, they strengthened them and built more sheds on Thursday.

“We will intensify our protest  if the government tries to evict us this time without meeting our demands,” Muththamma warned, adding, “We will either live or die in this place. I told Minister Kagodu Thimmappa that our days of toleration and silent suffering were over and we are now fighting for our rights. We have told the Deputy Commissioner that we will not accept 30x30 sites identified for us and want  two acres allotted to each family along with sites. As it has started raining,  it has become terrible to live in the tiny tents on the footpath opposite Diddalli school.”