Harsh Thakor
Countercurrents Collective | December 20, 2022
Members of the Zameen Prapati Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC) launched an indefinite protest outside Sangrur Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office yesterday as a result of abject failure of the authorities to fulfil promise to their long-pending demands. Around 400 persons participated, mainly women, with wrath written on their faces against the government apathy. Illustration of the bankruptcy of the Aam Admi party and the futility of legal recourse..Admirable to witness the resolute spirit of the women of the dalit community. Arduous preparations were undertaken in village blocks for this gathering.
Mukesh Malaud, zonal chief, ZPSC, said, “Despite repeated meetings with CM Bhagwant Mann and senior officials, no action has been taken to fulfil demands of Dalit labourers. The state government has compelled us to start the protest.”
The protesters fortified themselves with ration and other items to prolong their agitation for a considerable time.
“We have ration and other required articles. We will not lift our protest till the government fulfills our long-pending demands. The government has only paid lip service so far,” said Parmjit Kaur, general secretary, ZPSC.
The protesters’ main demands include eradication of illegal encroachments from Nazool land, which is under the Scheduled Caste land owning Cooperative Societies, proper representation to the SC members in cooperative societies of villages, withdrawal of the FIRs registered against the ZPSC members and plots awarded to the SC families from village common land.
Important that moral solidarity is given to this protest by all the agricultural labour groups of Punjab and Unions of landed peasantry. It is futile to repose any within the AAP machinery.
Harsh Thakor is a freelance journalist who has covered mass movements around India and frequently toured Punjab.
Journal of People 