SM Fasiullah for Beyondheadlines
Landless dalits and adivasis demanded land for their livelihood and dignity in a Bhoomi Adhikar Yatra (Land Right March) in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.
Thousands of men and women from all over the state converged in Shahajani Park in Bhopal, a city housing 26.6 million adivasis and dalits.
Beginning on 1 January 2013, the Yatra had been to over 646 villages spread from Rewa, covering whole MP part of Bundelkhand and then to Vidisha, Raisen, and Bhopal. The Yatra covered over 2200kms.
Dadulal Kole led adivasis under the banner of Adivasi Adhikar Andolan, while dalits were led by Sanjay Kumar Bharti, General Secretary of Rashtriya Dalit Mahasabha. They demanded from the government to implement Land Reform in Madhya Pradesh.
Most of the men and women who joined the march from its starting point at Hanumana in Rewa District or those who reached Bhopal were unable to properly speak, read or write Hindi, the official language of the state.
“But the Yatra evoke good response and thousands of the Dalits and Adivasis and other landless people reached Bhopal demanding five acre land for all the landless people in Madhya Pradesh,” a release noted.
“Unlike underground and so called radicals, these Dalit, Adivasis and Landless and their representatives were clear about their expectation from the Government and they believed that it was the duty of the state to fulfill their demands of 5 acre land.”
Ashok Bharti, Chairman at National Confederation of Dalit Organisations, reasoned that the Bahujan Samaj Party failed to make inroad among the Adivasis while Gandwana Gantantra Party failed to enroll Dalits in the state.
“With lost base among the Dalits, Congress is trying hard to gain foot hold among the Dalits. BJP is has already made clear to increase its vote share among them, it will be interesting to see how this collective journey will unfold in Madhya Pradesh, which goes to the poll at the end of this year,” stated Mr. Bharti.
