The Zameen Prapt Sangharsh commitee launched a 10 day hunger strike dharna pressing for legitimate demands promised by the Aam Ami party at the DC office at Sangrur .Around 1500 dalit agricultural labourers converged at the venue.
The ZPSC expressed determination in waging a persistent battle to achieve demands of allotment of 1/3rd Panchayat land, Implementation of law for Nuzrool land, awarding of 5 marlas to every dalit family, implementation of Manrega scheme, minimum of 100 days of work for very labourer, cancellation of all dummy auctioning, scrapping of all debts, lifting of charges on ZPSC leaders framed etc. Leaders like Mukesh Mulaudh spoke about how the ruling AAP never fulfilled it’s promises and made it imperative for the dalit labourers to come out on the streets. The ruling AAP has displayed a partisan approach with upper caste elements, patronising their welfare and being hand in glove in their anti-dalit actions.
The dalit agricultural labourers should be saluted for displaying such tenacity in withstanding bitter cold weather. A delegation met the administration on Tuesday.
Significant that on November 30th,the Sanjha Morcha is staging a state level rally outside the residence of Chief Minister Bhagawant Mann. This will united thousands of agricultural labour state wide. A most keenly awaited event in the present context. The ZPSC at grassroots level is undertaking preparations for the event.
Prominent leaders adressing the meeting were ZPSC leader Gurvinder Singh,Mukesh Mulaudh and Dharamveer Harigadh and Nirmal Marmana.
Enraged over the government’s alleged failure to fulfil their demands, members of Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC) have declared protest outside the Sangrur residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on November 30.
They have organised meetings engulfing villages all over Punjab to mobilise support .
“Repeated meetings have failed to yield any positive result for Dalits of Punjab as the leaders and officers are not taking our demands seriously. Our members from across Punjab will reach Sangrur on November 30 to protest for our demands,” said Mukesh Malaud, a leader of ZPSC.
Their main demands include amendment to the law to solve the problem of reserved lands from village common lands, ensure 33 per cent representation for Dalits in village cooperative societies and cancellation of FIRs registered against ZPSC members.
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist who covers mass movements around India
Courtesy: https://countercurrents.org