CPI(M) wants land returned to Dalit families

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the State government to return the 53 acres of land that had been grabbed from 20 Dalit families at Siruthavur village, to their heirs. Addressing the media here on Sunday, G. Ramakrishnan, State Secretary, termed unjustifiable the recommendations of the K.P. Sivasubramanian Commission that the lands allotted to Dalits in 1967 could be taken up for distribution to other landless Dalits. If it had not been for the 20 families lodging complaints, and the Communist Party submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi about the land grabbing, the enquiry commission would not have been appointed. Hence, the land should be distributed to the heirs of the families, he said.

Refutes charges

Mr. Ramakrishnan also refuted the charges made by the Chief Minister that the CPI (M) had supported the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the by-election without the latter demanding it. He said that it was the decision of the party's executive committee to support AIADMK. Moreover the AIADMK had sent a letter seeking the CPI (M)'s support in the by-elections.

Stating that untouchability was still prevalent in many forms in the State, he said that a two-day State-level conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchabilty Eradication Front would be held at Pudukottai on May 28 and 29 and would be attended by the party's national general secretary Prakash Karat.

Citing the Pallipalayam incident, where a CPI (M) functionary was hacked to death for fighting usury, Mr. Ramakrishnan said that the party would organise a conference at Pallipalayam in Namakkal district on May 23, demanding abolition of the same.

He opined that with higher education still remaining a distant dream for many, the Foreign University Bill would only further reduce the chances of the poor getting higher education, and the CPI (M) would oppose the Bill.

The party also demanded that textbooks for matriculation schools under the Samacheer Kalvi Thittam be published and distributed by the State.

(Courtesy : The Hindu)