Do not Play with our lives and regret later – Raghuveer During SC/ST protest
Mangaluru: The Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Welfare Committee staged a protest in front of the Mangaluru City Corporation here on August 22.
Addressing the protesters SC/ST leader Ashok Konchadi said, “At Marakada survey number 102/3A, 102/3B, 102/3C, 102/3D and 102/4 there is 1.2 acre of DC Manna land which has illegally encroached and illegal construction is going on in the place. When we approached the Mayor of Mangaluru, he questioned us and said, “Where is the DC Manna land? I was born and brought up in Kavoor and I don’t find any government land which is reserved for the oppressed class”. What kind of a statement from the Mayor of Mangaluru!. We respect the Mayor but in this issue we want the Mayor to do justice with the SC/ST and not to protect the people who have encroached the DC Manna land”.
Ashok also stressed that in 2015, on March 22, a public meeting was called under the leadership of MLA Moideen Bava and we had demanded to build an Ambedkar Bhavan and submitted a memorandum. After receiving the memorandum MLA Moideen Bava had assured to build a full-fledged Ambedkar Bhavan and announced Rs 50 lakh for the same. But now there is an illegal construction coming up in that place, we approached the concerned authorities but no action has been taken until now. Instead of listening to our plea, and giving justice to the weaker section of the society the concerned authorities are indirectly supporting the people who are violating the law. The commissioner should intervene and take strict action against those who violate the law.
Ashok demanded swift action against those who have encroached the DC Manna land which is reserved for the SC/ST. He also said that when a Dalit was assaulted in MUDA, the Mayor took part in the protest, but the same Mayor has maintained silence when the SC/ST in his own neighbourhood are facing problems. The corporators are also not raising their voice, if they have a real concern about the SC/ST let them come and join us in our agitation, he added.
SC/ST leader Raghuveer Sooterpete said, “Dalits have been treated as sub-humans, they kick us when and where they want. But if they continuously play with our lives, the day is not far for them to regret. Our children, youth, and elderly people are being harassed and beaten up, but the people’s representatives, elected members, government officials do not take the matter seriously. We are the weaker section in the society and our voice is not being heard. We need basic education and basic facilities. The concerned authorities should announce the “reserved land for oppressed Class” as the DC Manna land and erect plaque in the land. Training centres should be opened for the SCST students and an Ambedkar Bhavan should be built”, he said.
Later the Commissioner of MCC Mohammed Nazir met the protesters and receives a memorandum from the protesters and assured to look into the matter.
