Declared PO, man fighting for Dalit rights
Despite being declared a proclaimed offender (PO) by a Sangrur court, Mukesh Sharma alias Malaudh is spearheading a movement to get one-third share of panchayati land for cooperative farming by Dalit peasants in the region.
Malaudh, who is president of Zameen Prapti Sangarsh Committee (ZPSC), a Dalit rights outfit active since 2014, has come up with a demand that panchayati land be given for 99-year lease to Dalits on nominal rent.
A case was registered against Malaudh and 40 others in June 2014 when auction of panchayati land reserved for scheduled castes took an ugly turn at Balad Kalan village in the district. Maluadh and his supporters were insisting on land on nominal rent for Dalits, leading to a clash with police and a consequent lathicharge by the cops.
He was booked under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 148 (rioting) and 149 (offence committed by a person of unlawful assembly) of the IPC at Bhawanigarh police station.
Malaudh, who could not be arrested, was finally declared PO by judicial magistrate first class (JMIC) Jagbir Singh Mehandiratta on May 3.
Malaudh, who has been hiding from the police, has a big support base among Dalits even as he belongs to a high caste.
He is going ahead with his movement while the administration is conducting auctions of panchayati land for the next year in the region.
“The ZPSC is agitating for 33% share of Dalits in panchayati land. We have set an example of cooperative farming where Dalits collectively take land on rent and cultivate jointly. They are now living with dignity in various villages of the state,” Malaudh told Hindustan Times.
“The government increases rent of land every year. But if the government really wants to uplift Dalits, the land should be given to them at least for 99-year lease on nominal rent,” he added.
The Congress government has identified around 200 acres of common land for a plastic park in Bhawanigarh area, but the ZPSC is opposing the project. Malaudh said they would not to allow any industry on panchayat land.
Meanwhile, police officials claim they are not aware about the court’s decision to declare Malaudh PO. “I can comment after checking the record,” said Charanjiv Lamba, station house officer (SHO), Bhawanigarh.