Dalits threaten State-wide campaign, protests against government

MANGALURU

Accusing the State government of continuing with anti-Dalit policies, Dalit leaders said here on Monday that a State-wide campaign and protests will be carried out for the government not coming out with guidelines for the allotment of ‘DC Manna’ (depressed classes) land to SCs and STs.

Talking to reporters, Dalit Samanvaya Samiti leaders Ramesh Kotiyan, Raghu K. Yekkar and Ashok Konchady said the State government, for the last nine years, has been giving false promises of coming out with draft rules for the allotment of ‘DC Manna’ land. The government has failed to take action against wealthy persons who have illegally occupied ‘DC Manna’ land.

Recently, during a meeting with Dalits, Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan assured them of starting the allotment after the State government grants approval for the proposed allocation of 5 cents of ‘DC Manna’ sites in urban areas and one acre of cultivable ‘DC Manna’ land in rural areas. The leaders said district In-charge Minister U.T. Khader had assured them of getting approval for the allotment of ‘DC Manna’ land during the Mangaluru cabinet meeting on September 18. The failure of the State government to take any action regarding allotting the land gives an impression that the government is trying to protect the wealthy people who have illegally occupied DC Manna land. The allotment of DC Manna land was among the promises made by the ruling Congress in its election manifesto.

In addition to carrying out a campaign and protests against the State government, the Dalit leaders said they will stage protests in front of venues where Mr. Khader will henceforth take part.