25,000 rally in Capital to demand land reforms

The Capital was besieged today with more than 25,000 villagers and tribals who converged on Delhi for a rally to demand land reforms and a comprehensive overhaul of land dispute settlement procedures.

The rally and the 26-day walkathon proceeding it is being organised by an organisation called the Ekta Parishad, and funded by international organisations like Oxfam and Christian Aid among others. Its leader is P V Rajagopal who says that the aim of the rally is to bring land reforms to the centre of rural development policies.

The rally is made up of tribals, Dalits and ordinary farmers, and has passed through at least five states to reach Delhi today.

Giri Ram, a participant from Madhya Pradesh, said, "We have been sleeping on polythene sheets on the road and are more or less at the mercy of the elements."

At least three people died in a truck accident and four due to illness on the long trek to Delhi.

Walking 10 to 12 km a day from October 2, over 25,000 people started their journey from Gwalior to persuade the government for an overhauling of policies on land reforms and for eradication of poverty and hunger.

The protesters, who will stay at Ramlila Ground, will be marching to Rajghat tomorrow where they will chalk out their future course of action.

The protesters' demands include setting up of a National Land Authority, fast-track courts and a single-window system to deal with land and livelihood disputes. Protesters also want the setting up of a "single window system" at the district level to deal with land and livelihood issues.

It is not just Indian but 200 foreigners from over 30 countries who are also taking part in the rally. While travelling on the highways leading to Delhi, these rallyists have been camping on the roads itself, blocking up to 25 km of highway at a time.

Despite availing the hospitality of roadside dhaba owners, the rallyists have made provisions for themselves with 50 trucks carrying food items and medicines, while 50 water tankers are carrying water for the protesters, an organiser said. Fifty quintals of rice and 12 quintals of pulses and potatoes were consumed daily, Rajagopal added.

Commuters in Delhi can look forward to jams all over the central parts of the city tomorrow owing to this rally. "It is a peaceful rally, but yes we are many," said Rajagopal.

He added that even when three rallyists were killed by trucks during the march to Delhi, the rest of them held a prayer meeting rather than give vent to anger.