The Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti (WPSS) and seven other environmental organisations have strongly rejected allegations by certain quarters that they have been spreading misinformation, saying the accusations are intended to serve the interests of encroachers and the quarrying, resort and tourism lobbies rather than address the genuine concerns of farmers.

In a joint statement, organisations said claims that they had portrayed farmers as a “mafia” in a letter addressed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were false. They maintained that the letter had instead criticised certain organisations that claimed to represent farmers, alleging that they served vested interests and had supported the appointment of a controversial individual to the Forest Minister’s personal staff.

WPSS president N. Badusha said his organisation defended a scientific seminar it organised in Kalpetta after the 2024 Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide, stating that the event examined factors such as deforestation, unregulated tourism, quarrying and climate change as contributors to landslide risks. It alleged that attempts were made to disrupt the seminar by branding it as anti-farmer, despite it having no connection with farmers’ issues.

The Samiti said it recognised the seriousness of human-wildlife conflict and supported urgent measures to protect farmers. However, it argued that several self-styled farmer organisations had focused on promoting hostility towards forests and wildlife rather than addressing issues such as falling crop prices, climate change, crop insurance, and tourism-related pressures.

Highlighting its four decades of environmental activism, Mr. Badusha said the WPSS had consistently worked alongside farmers and indigenous communities on issues including voluntary rehabilitation from forests, protection of elephant habitats, and campaigns against ecologically harmful development.

Published - August 02, 2026 07:39 pm IST