Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Sep 3: CPI(M) national general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday September 3 visited Sundar Malekudiya, a Dalit whose fingers were chopped off allegedly by his landlord at Neriya in Beltangady taluk.

After meeting Sundar at AJ Hospital in the city where he has been admited and speaking to doctors, Yechury addressed reporters and said, "I have come here to express solidarity with Sunder Malekudiya and his family who are fighting against illegal occupation of the tribal land by landlords. We passed tribal bill in the parliament many years ago after much struggle. We forced the then government to agree to pass the tribal bill and to ensure that all tribal families get title deeds. Instead, we still see the prevalence of centuries-old feudal landlordism which encroaches upon their traditional land.

"When tribals go back to claim their own land, this is what happens. This is a serious and inhuman crime," he added.

"This is a crime perpetuated by the landlords. I have come to know that the accused person and his family have been arrested, and also that the family has high connections with a political party. Thorough inquiry should be done into this case and no amount of influence should be utilized to try to dilute the case or exonerate the culprit," he demanded.

He also said that it is the responsibility of the government to take care of Sunder Malekudiya's medical expenses, and that the accused person and his family should compensate the victim.

Asked if he would raise this issue in the parliament, Yechury said, "This issue is related to law and order problem, but we will raise it in the parliament on the grounds of Tribal Forest Protection Act and its non-implementation in the state of Karnataka. This issue should be raised in the parliament as the Supreme Court too has given directions on it. The parliament and the entire country has to know that despite the modernity in India, we still have strong prevalence of land grabbing and landlords. This is something that cannot be tolerated or allowed in modern India. We have abolished zamindari system and that cannot be allowed now. This issue will be raised in the parliament."

To a question on the recent incident of alleged moral policing at Attavar which gained national attention, he referred to the murder of Kannada scholar Prof Kalburgi in Dharwad and said, "Unfortunately, we have seen the murder of Prof Kalburgi. This murder comes under the various murders of national thinkers like Narendra Dabholkar. These are clear indications of powers-that-be in states of India who are patronising forces who are openly indulging in moral policing.

"Tulunadu has seen co-existence of modern cultures for centuries. Since the time of Vijayanagara empire Tulunadu has been a place where life has intermingled with various cultures, religions and co-existed. But now this is shattered, and it is most unfortunate. Moral policing being given patronage goes against the grain of modern republic of India and the Constitution. Hence this needs to be curtailed with a strong hand," he stressed.

CPI(M) members from Dakshina Kannada and Kerala were present.