Other States - Rajasthan   

Land of the poor going to the rich: CPI (ML)

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) leaders have met Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil here to submit a memorandum addressed to the President seeking an end to "official repression" of those who raised their voices against injustice. Instances of authorities taking a stand against the rights of labourers, poor farmers and the displaced people while favouring the rich were on the increase in the country, they charged.

The delegation, led by Srilatha Swaminathan, CPI (M-L) Central Committee member, and Mahendra Choudhary, its state secretary, told Ms. Patil that the state governments had started working as agents of business houses in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan. False cases were being registered against social and political activists who opposed the system and aired the grievances of the poor, they said.

The delegation cited the instance of Uttar Pradesh where 2,200 acres of land were snatched from the farmers of Bajoria Khurd near Dadri for the proposed Reliance project while in Orissa about a dozen tribals were shot dead for protesting against giving away tribal land to the Tatas. A case of "attempt to murder" was registered by the police against CPI (M-L) general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya for leading a march to the Jharkhand Assembly protesting against police firing on adivasis demonstrating against the Koil Karo dam, they said.

A case of attempt to commit suicide was registered against Medha Patkar after sitting on fast demanding rehabilitation of those displaced by the Narmada dam waters, Ms. Swaminathan pointed out. What was going on Chhattisgarh in the name of "Salva Judum" was a rein of terror creating a civil war-like situation, she charged. The adivasis were being forced to stay in relief camps, she said. In Rajasthan the farmers who sought water were fired upon in Tonk and Sriganganagar. The lands of farmers were being acquired by the Government agencies for the proposed Special Economic Zone, Mr. Choudhary noted.

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