Kochi: Despite ongoing protests from environmentalists over his appointment to forest minister Shibu Baby John's personal staff, Kuttampuzha native Sijumon Francis, a former vocal critic of the forest department, continues to hold his position.
Complaint Filed Against Appointment
The Coexistence Collective, Kerala, filed a complaint with Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the forest minister, demanding Francis's removal. However, Minister John told TOI that anyone can file a complaint if they have issues with the forest department.
Francis's History of Criticism
Francis had previously criticized the department through social media posts, organized protests against the government, and pursued legal action. The collective cited these actions, expressing concern that his role in the minister's staff could undermine ecological safeguards in the state.
Letter to Congress Leaders
The collective also wrote to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other top Congress functionaries, raising similar concerns. The letter alleged that the forest minister had aligned with what it called the "anti-forest, anti-wildlife business driven quarry, land-mafia lobby," describing them as illegal encroaders posing as farmers.
Allegations Against Francis and Minister
"Sijumon is basically a partner with the encroachment, mining, poaching lobby and their spokesperson, so any attempts by forest department to protect forests or wildlife will only be sabotaged by the Church, their fake-farmer teams," the letter stated. The collective also criticized the forest minister, saying, "From his very first official interview, the minister categorically asserted that Kerala's forest cover stands at 29% and claimed that expanding or conserving it further is entirely unnecessary. This statement is factually incorrect. By fabricating a narrative of excessive forest cover, the minister is attempting to justify the relaxation of conservation laws. Furthermore, his public claims that the wild animal population has exceeded the forest's carrying capacity are designed to create a pretext to water down the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in order to satisfy commercial and fringe political interests and dangerous."
