Even after the Andhra Pradesh government has taken a clear stand on distribution of cultivable land to the landless and house sites for other non-agricultural labour, the Left parties’ agitation for land continues. The Mudigonda incident, where police firing claimed seven lives, has forced national-level Congress leaders to tilt the scales towards the red brigade, pushing state party leaders to go slow against the agitators.
Interestingly, the land struggle has now been embraced by all political parties, including Congress and Telugu Desam Party. Political analysts infer that this might be one reason for the leftists to raise the issue forcefully this time. “This is an opportune time because the hopes of the people have risen with the government’s policy to distribute land to the landless. Those who failed to get land allotment become captive party workers,” a senior analyst said.
In fact, subsequent to the collapse of talks with the Maoists, the state had initiated the ‘land distribution’ programme in a big way. During the last two years, it has distributed about 4.5 lakh acre of fertile land to the landless. It has also promised house sites to the rural poor other than the agricultural labour through the Indiramma scheme.
However, the Left parties are continuing agitation saying that the land distribution system is not fool-proof. They say that the actual poor are not receiving the benefits. The Left parties have also demanded appointment of an ‘independent land commission’ to oversee distribution.
Owing to pressure from the high command, the Congress state unit has agreed to appoint a land commission controlled by the government.
Speaking to media after the meeting, Digvijay Singh, the party in-charge for AP, said a door-to-door survey will be conducted to see that none was left out.
