AAP team meets DGP over ‘atrocities’ against Dalits

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

A delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party led by leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha HS Phoolka on Tuesday met the state DGP over atrocities against Dalits.

It also met the Director of Rural Development and Panchayats regarding irregularities in the distribution of village common land.

Phoolka said the incident of Jaloor village that happened last year was one such example. The recent case of Kashmir Singh of Bagga village in Amritsar has again drawn the attention over the issue. He alleged that there was gross violation of Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules-1964 in the execution of auction of cultivable land to be leased. The rules require one third of the shamlat land proposed to be leased to be kept for members of scheduled castes but complaints of its non-compliance at various places have been received.

Phoolka said rules also required the auction of such land to be held in the presence of BDOs, BDPOs or DDPOs, according to the size of the landholding but at most places, the exercise took place only in the presence of the local panchayat secretaries in an arbitrary manner.

AAP leaders proposed that a committee with a considerable number of members of the SC community should be constituted at the district level with local MLA as its chairman. The auction of lease of land should be held in the presence of committee members. Also, the land reserved for Dalits should be reshuffled with landlords to ensure that same quality of land is allocated to Dalits.

Gearing up for MC, Gurdaspur polls

Gurdaspur: AAP state co-convener and Sunam MLA Aman Arora on Tuesday said the party was gearing up to contest the Gurdaspur byelection and the MC polls. “Committees comprising seven members each have been set up in each of the four cities where the MC polls are slated to be held soon. For the Gurdaspur seat, a similar committee has been constituted, headed by zonal incharge Lakhbir Singh. We are taking feedback from volunteers on the probables,” he said. On former state unit convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Arora said: “I had invited him to return to the party. If he doesn't want to come back, it's his choice. He is a relic. He has virtually ceased to exist for the party.” TNS