HYDERABAD Hundreds of peasants, including women, began a long march from the grave of peasant leader late Haider Bux Jatoi to pressurise the Sindh assembly to bring about amendments in the Sindh Tenancy Act.
After marching on the main city roads, the participants of the long march staged a sit-in at Haider chowk.
The speakers demanded of the Sindh assembly members to amend the Sindh Tenancy Act to protect the rights of the peasants. They warned the Sindh government that if the proposed amendments in the Sindh Tenancy Act were not incorporated in the Act, the consequences will be disastrous.
The participants of the long march, sponsored by South Asia Partnership Pakistan, Agricultural Reforms Committee and Sindh Porhiyat Sangat, will reach Karachi on February 26.
Speaking on the occasion, the executive director SAP, Mohammad Tahseen quoting Habib Jalib said that even today, many a Benazirs of the country were bare footed and many a Bilawals were hungry. He warned the rulers that their decency should not be construed as their weakness.
The situation has radically changed and if any excesses are committed against any peasant of Sindh, Punjab province will be the first to raise its voice, he said.
Karamat Ali of PILER said that the long march will prove to be a milestone for the unity of the peasants and workers and added that they should have equal rights. He urged the oppressed sections of society to unite on one platform against repression.
Coordinator of SAP for Sindh, Zulfiqar Shah said that the peasants of Sindh have become fully conscious of their rights and with the support of the workers they will not allow the rule of feudals over the tillers of the land. He specifically warned a landlord from Sanghar district of serious consequences if he did not stop excesses against the peasants.
He appealed to the members of the Sindh assembly to introduce the proposed amendments in the Sindh Tenancy Act and warned that if their demands were not accepted, the rulers will not be able to withstand the second protest of the peasants.
The chief of Sindh Hari Committee, Comrade Azhar Jatoi, the grand son of Comrade Haider Bux Jatoi, warned the landlords and feudals that the peasants will not take things lying down. He demanded that the lands of Sindh should be handed over to the peasants.
Punhal Sario in his emotional speech said that it was the misfortune of the peasants that after the construction of Sukkur, Guddu and Kotri barrages, the lands were distributed among the feudal lords instead of haris (peasants).
He said the workers had always been exploited and added that even in this modern age, only feudal elements were sitting in the assemblies.
He appealed to the people from all walks of life to participate in the long march at Karachi on February 26.
