No action, no justice: Dalits’ land protest persists relentlessly
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
Andhra Pradesh: Despite 22 days of a continuous relay hunger strike by Dalits demanding justice over encroached lands, district officials have remained unmoved, said Rayalaseema Communist Party (RCP) State General Secretary Ravi Shankar Reddy. The protest, organized under the banner of the Dalit Tribal Rights Struggle Association, is set to intensify with wider participation in the coming days.
No response from officials, allegations of apathy
Speaking at the protest camp near the Kadapa RDO office, Ravi Shankar questioned the purpose of a government that fails to protect lands it itself distributed to the poor. “If officials cannot safeguard land given to Dalits by the state, what is the relevance of such a government? The rich are enjoying those lands as privileges, while the poor are left to pay taxes on property they don’t even control,” he said.
Round table and RDO office siege planned
To escalate the protest, Ravi Shankar announced that a round table meeting with political parties and public organizations would be held at the hunger strike camp on Thursday, the 10th, followed by a siege of the RDO office on Monday, the 14th. “This is not just a local issue—it is about justice and dignity. We are determined to fight until the land issues faced by Dalits are resolved,” he said.
Appeal to revenue officials in Mangalagiri
Ravi Shankar also said he would be meeting key revenue officials at the Revenue Head Office in Mangalagiri, including Inspector of Survey Venu and Joint Director CHVS Kumar, to press for immediate intervention and resolution.
Community participation grows stronger
The hunger strike saw participation from affected Dalit individuals such as Palamma, Obulamma, Diwakar, Hanumanthu, Obulesu, and from leaders of the Dalit Tribal Rights Struggle Association, including honorary presidents Venkatesh, Madagalam Prasad, Taslim, Lakshmi Devi, Pratap Reddy, Obulesu, and Noor Bhasha, among others.
As the struggle continues, the protestors are calling on all democratic forces to stand in solidarity with Dalits fighting to reclaim their rightful land.
