The Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, is in the news for a wrong reason. Tribals living in several Gujarat villages, near the statue site, have said that their livelihood has been affected by the project. As many as 75,000 tribals in Narmada district are planning a mourning on the inauguration day.

"No food will be cooked in the 72 villages affected by the entire project, as we will be mourning on that day, for the project is being carried out for our destruction," a tribal leader has been quoted as saying by a news agency.

How were they affected? The lands of the STs were acquired for the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project (the statue site is located in its proximity) but no alternative lands have been given to them.

On Oct 31, there will be a bandh across schools, offices, commercial establishments, and even households will go silent by stopping cooking activities.