Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal
Bantwal, May 20: A protest demanding land title deeds for three Scheduled Tribe (ST) families residing in Devinagar, ward 3 of Punacha village in the Puttur assembly constituency, entered its third day on Wednesday. Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta joined the agitation in front of the Bantwal Mini Vidhana Soudha to express solidarity with the deprived families.
The affected families had arrived at the Bantwal Mini Vidhana Soudha on Monday, May 18, after tahsildar Manjunath assured them that their title deeds would be distributed. However, they were left disappointed when the tahsildar allegedly withheld the documents on the instructions of Puttur MLA Ashok Rai, stating that the deeds would be handed over during a scheduled programme in Puttur.
Rejecting this, the families insisted on receiving their rightful deeds immediately and launched an overnight dharna at the venue.
Learning about the situation, former Puttur MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, along with members of the Puttur and Bantwal BJP units, extended their support. After protesting until Tuesday evening, the BJP leaders warned the administration of launching an intensified agitation if the title deeds were not issued by the following morning.
As the protest continued on the steps of the office for the third day, MP Capt Brijesh Chowta and BJP district president Satish Kumpala joined the protesting workers and families.
Addressing the gathering, MP Capt Brijesh Chowta strongly condemned the stance of Puttur MLA Ashok Rai and the state government, accusing them of intentionally delaying the issuance of title deeds to the poor. Calling the government's actions "anti-Dalit," he assured that the BJP would stand with the families until justice is served.
"As the Siddaramaiah government celebrates its three-year milestone, the state's condition has deteriorated to a pathetic level where poor people, especially from the Scheduled Tribe communities, are forced to beg in front of the administrative headquarters for their rights. This is highly shameful and condemnable," Capt Chowta stated.
He further alleged that while the BJP has always made honest efforts to secure title deeds for ST communities, the Puttur MLA is orchestrating a systematic conspiracy to deny the land to these families even after successful struggles. He issued a stern warning to the MLA and the ruling Congress government, stating that the BJP would not tolerate continuous injustice against the poor. "All officials must listen carefully; the countdown to the end of the Congress party has begun," he warned.
The MP also criticized the state government for coming to power on false promises. Highlighting the lack of trust in the government's guarantees, he questioned if the funds were actually reaching households.
"Everyone knows that Rs 800 crore of Ksheeradhare funds has not been released yet. While the state was supposed to distribute two lac houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, this government has provided only 1.40 lac houses. The Siddaramaiah government has completely failed in implementing central government schemes, causing people to lose faith entirely," he added.
Prominent BJP leaders and workers from the Puttur and Bantwal mandals were present during the protest.