‘Azaadi Kooch Yatra’ organised by Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch reached Siddhpur on Thursday night. The padyatra, aimed at securing land allotted to Dalits, had started off from Mehsana on Wednesday.
Interestingly, the procession had halted at Brahmanvada on Thursday afternoon. Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who is the brain behind the protest, said, “Brahmanvada is the native of PM Narendra Modi’s wife Jashodaben. We received warm welcome there. We also held a meeting with the residents where we explained to them the objective behind our march. They expressed willingness to join us.” He added that a luxury buss full of residents of Brahmanvada will participate in the public gathering in Dhanera on July 18. “We have received police permission for the meeting,” Mevani added.
Explaining the aim of the padyatra, Mevani said, “34 Dalit and Thakor families from Vanagala village of Unjha taluka had been allotted land in 2007. As per rule, the possession has to be given in 90 days. But, 10 years later, they are yet to get the land. We started the yatra with the demand that these families be given the promised land.”
The members of the padyatra were detained in Mehsana on Wednesday but were released three hours later. They reached Unjha the same night. They left the place on Thursday afternoon and reached Brahmanvada, from where they left for Siddhpur after the meeting.
