Bid to curb agrarian violence in Bihar

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA, OCT. 14. Rural Bihar is set to witness a new experiment, one which seeks to curb criminal propensities and agrarian violence and usher in social amity and restore the development process for a stronger democracy.

The new campaign is being undertaken by the Ekta Parishad, which launched its land right movement in Madhya Pradesh. As a precursor to the movement its national convenor, Mr. P. V. Rajagopal, undertook a padayatra covering 380 villages of six districts of Bihar to create the necessary ambience.

Mr. Rajagopal commenced his padayatra on September 11, Vinoba Bhave Jayanti, from Jamui and concluded it here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan on Thursday after covering the districts of Nawada, Nalanda, Gaya and Jehanabad. He now plans to launch his youth mobilisation campaign in these districts from November.His objective is to forge unity between the farmers and the landless labourers by taking up an exercise which would be in the interest of both.

Canals which need repairs would first be identified and then at least a dozen camps would be held between January and June to ensure a good supply of irrigation water. It would ensure a minimum wage to the labourers. During his padayatra Mr. Rajagopal has enrolled about 4,000 youth who have volunteered to pursue his objective.

The Parishad believes that much of the rural violence is land- related and unfortunately the problem is being blown out of proportions primarily by the government officials.

Mr. Rajagopal recounted that he had been warned against undertaking the padayatra but found that the threats were hollow in reality.

Against claims to the contrary, Mr. Rajagopal after an inspection of the land records, pointed out that more than 50,000 acres of government land were still available for distribution in Nawada district alone. Similarly the records had been manipulated in Jehanabad to show that there were no land for distribution.

Mr. Rajagopal has held talks with the RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav and the Legislative Council Chairman, Dr. Jabir Hussain, but warned that if the State Government failed to set things right within one year, the parishad would launch a comprehensive agitational programme to put pressure on the Government.

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