12 long years, Badkhalsa residents won’t give up fight

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service 

Sonepat, April 11

A motley “crowd”  of protesters in Badkhalsa village just won’t give up. Twelve long years have gone by without a glimmer of hope, yet the residents remain resolute in their struggle. They want their land, acquired for the Rajiv Gandhi Education City in November 2005, to be released.

Believing they could save their land, they began a protest that stretched into weeks, months and years, but to no avail. They are now banking on Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s assurance for their troubles to end.

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A bespectacled, toothless Dharam Singh, 80, joins the sit-in off the GT Road to mark his presence. He has one last wish: “Official” possession of less than half an acre of his land acquired by the government. Resting on a stick, his shoulders bent, he is one of the many faces that make up the crowd. 

“Ours is the only village that refused to accept the award money for the acquisition. We began our dharna that very day. Many a season has gone by and many village elders have died, but we have continued with our fight,” says Virender.

“We have never approached politicians to support our cause. Our unity has been our strength and the government has not been able to take physical possession of our land so far,” explains Vijay Pal, who has 5.5 acres at stake.

In a village where land-holdings are small, the villagers take turns to participate in the dharna. On any given day, 20 to 30 gather under a shed they have built with their own money. “We had a bamboo shed which was set ablaze by miscreants last year. Everybody chipped in and we raised another one,” says Dr Dalpat. He is all praise for the womenfolk for their role in keeping the agitation alive, participating in large numbers. Across the road, a semi-constructed shed serves as a kitchenette where women make tea for the protesters.

“We start gathering at 8 in the morning and a few of us are always here till 5 pm. That is our way of saying we haven’t given up,” says Ram Chander, whom the residents address as “president sahib”.

Oscillating between hope and despair, any “movement” has them overjoyed. “The CM held a meeting today. Our land will be released soon,” says an excited Sandeep, as others nod in agreement.

The CM, at a meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday, reportedly gave officers a piece of his mind for dragging their feet on the matter. “The CM has asked the officers to take a call on the issue. But there are several complexities, which are causing the delay,” claimed government sources. 

Back in Badkhalsa, the news of the meeting sends a wave of  joy. “I will believe we have made it only when I get a letter in my hand,” says an elderly man with scepticism. Faces turn grim. Somebody suggests that they call it a day, and return tomorrow with hope afresh. All oblige.