Land reform protests head for Delhi: More than one lakh activists expected in Capital

By Dilip -

The protests by a few civil society groups demanding land reforms is all set to blow into a full-fledged agitation, courtesy the government's indecisive approach.  On October 28, the Capital will witness one of its largest mass demonstrations ever. Nearly 50,000 landless tribals and peasants from 26 states began their yatra (march) to Delhi from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.  The march began as the government failed to arrive at an agreement with Ekta Parishad, under whose banner the agitation is taking place. Reconciliation seemed possible until last week when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Ekta Parishad's chairman PV Rajagopal.  

The government decided to depute three Union ministers - Jairam Ramesh (rural development), Kishore Chandra Deo (tribal affairs and Panchayati Raj) and Mukul Wasnik (social justice and empowerment) - to address the protesters in Gwalior.  But at the last moment, Deo and Wasnik were withdrawn and Ramesh went with Jyotiraditya Scindia, who hails from Gwalior, on a chartered flight.  'The fact that they sent one of the largest landowners Scindia, speaks about the lack of sincerity,' one of the activists told MAIL TODAY. 

Sources in the government said the change in plan happened at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office.  The source also said the PM wasn't in favour of giving large-scale concessions to the activists as it would impact investor  entiments.  'The National Land Reforms Council, which is headed, by the Prime Minister hasn't met even once since its formation in January 2008,' said Rajagopal, questioning the government's seriousness. 

According to the Ekta Parishad, the number of protesters will cross one lakh by the time the march reaches the Capital. The protesters are expected to cover a stretch of 12 km each day.  They have four main demands: protection of tribal areas through the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act and the Forest Rights Act, construction of shelters in rural areas, regularisation of land that has been brought under cultivation, and acknowledging the participation of women in agriculture.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2212982/Agitation-land-reforms-intensify-Capital.html#ixzz28V0uqg2e 

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