Dalit Makkal Iyakkam protested in front of Commissionerate of Land Administration in Chepauk, Chennai, demanding that 12 lakh acre of lands that were given to Dalits in Tamil Nadu around 125 years back by the British should be reclaimed and returned to them.

Protests led by Dalit Makkal Iyakkam saw the participation of CPI (M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam, who said that there has been no effort to return even one acre of land to those who deserve it despite Madras High Court order, Supreme Court order and G.O.s by Revenue department.

Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Shanmugam said, “Based on Madras High Court verdict, in October 2015, the State government formed a committee and identified 2.5 lakh acres of land. But it has not been retrieved. Both DMK and AIADMK have been callous when it comes to retrieving Panchami lands.”

He added, “We don’t know if the high-level committee is even functional now. If its work has been done, then I appeal to the State Government to form a separate Commission and fix a time period to retrieve the lands.” Mr. Shanmugam also slammed former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam for buying Panchami lands despite knowing that it is legally impossible to do so.

“Despite knowing that it is against the law, he has purchased Panchami land using his political power. He committed a big fraud his position as Chief Minister and with the help of Revenue officials. The SC/ST Commission has delivered a good verdict. Action should be taken against the Tahsildar who gave the Patta to the land. The land should be retrieved and handed over to the Dalit people in the area and criminal proceedings should be initiated against him,” he said.

Sa. Karuppiah, President, Dalit Makkal Iyakkam representative, said, “Dalit people continue to be landless even today. According to Government data, 1.25 lakh Dalit families in Tamil Nadu don’t own a house. The ‘Dravidian model’ government should retrieve the panchami lands and hand it over to the people.”