KALPETTA: Caught between an aggressive party that jumped into agitations and a less-united LDF Government lethargic in resolving land issues, the tribal community in the district is once again defeated in their decades-long struggle for land. The backing out of the CPM outfit AKS (Adivasi Kshema Samithy) from the six-months-long agitation, after the meeting with the Chief Minister on Monday at Thrissur, is another serious setback for the struggle of landless tribals.
Earlier, the land-grabbing agitations led by Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha in 2003, in the interiors of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, had a catastrophic end with two deaths.
But the end of the latest struggle is different as the agitators had to bow out without any resistance. Started on February 7, 2010, the land-grabbing agitations at the controversial land of Adv George Pothan at Vellaramkunnu continued for six months. Whereas, acting on a High Court directive, the district administration had earlier evacuated agitators from the land of M V Shreyamskumar MLA at Krishnagiri. Interestingly, what prevented the government from taking over the land legally is an enigma.
Despite the LDF deciding in principle to take over the land, the High Court’s nod for take over if the possession is illegal and countless reports of government officials recommending takeover, nothing happened.
Even the ‘rank and file’ of the CPM believes that conflict within the LDF and lethargy of Revenue Minister K P Rajendran were the elements that torpedoed the ‘takeover’ move.
Sub-Collector N Prasanth had earlier (February 8, 2010) in a report recommended to take over the controversial Kinfra land at Vellaramkunnu, as the possession of the land was illegal. He also recommended approaching the High Court for a judicial remedy, as it was the judiciary that granted him the award of `2.5 crore for the land.
“The judiciary has been misused to procure a wrongful decree and the only remedy available to undo the damage is an appeal to the High Court,” the report said. Still no steps were taken towards the recommendation.
And at the last lap of the LDF Ministry, none expects a miracle. After some fire and fume, the tribals would return to their distant hamlets. But for the AKS and C K Saseendran, leader of the tribal struggle, it would be a tough task to convince them that the withdrawal was another step towards victory.