It began with the Ugandan government's plans to allot almost a third of a nature reserve in the Mabira Forest to a sugar company owned by the Mehta Group. The Ugandan government has a 51 percent stake in the company, which aims at cultivating sugarcane in the forest.
The Mehta Group, set up by legendary Nanji Kalidas Mehta in 1900 has a significant presence in Uganda, with interests in cotton, sugar, textiles, tea and coffee plantations, engineering, floriculture, management and finance.
In Gujarat, the group owns Saurashtra Cements Limited in Ranavav near Porbandar and Gujarat Siddhi Cement Limited at Sutrapada near Veraval.
Commenting on the protest against the company in Kampala, Suresh Kothari, spokesperson for the Mehta Group in Gujarat, told rediff.com, "There is nothing serious about the protests. The Mehta group has a very good image in
Uganda and it is very popular among people and the government. The protests by environmentalists are hyped by the media. I am sure the land acquisition plan will also go through in near future."
But the environmentalists have raised slogans like 'cut one tree and we'll cut five Asians'.
Watching such posters on television frightens Gujaratis with relatives in Uganda.
Image : Devang Raval's body lies on the ground soon after his death on April 12.
Photographs: Peter Busomoke/AFP/Getty Images
Also see: The night of the demoness
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