When the Kerala government allotted 5 cents of land to her in 2015 after her prolonged agitation, Dalit woman auto-driver Chithralekha thought that it was the end of her decade-long struggle.
However, years after the then UDF government allotted the piece of land in Edatt to the Kannur woman, the present LDF government has decided to reclaim the land. The order signed by Additional Chief Secretary has come, even as Chithralekha has been constructing a small house on the land.
Sharing the government notice she received recently, Chithralekha took to Facebook to vent her ire against the ruling government.
"Pinarayi Vijayan government has cancelled the order allowing me the piece of land I fought to get. If you won't let me live in peace even now, Pinarayi Vijayan can feed on mine and my family's corpses," Chitrralekha wrote in Malayalam.
According to the government circular Chithralekha shared, the government decided to reclaim the land, after "realising" that she already owns another piece of land.
Chithralekha's consistent efforts to resist the harassment by left-affiliated trade unions in Kannur over the years, garnered media attention and immense support from people.
She has been resisting attempts made by Left party cadre to dissuade her from plying her vehicle in an auto rickshaw-stand of CITU, which is a trade union affiliated with the CPI(M). From using casteist slurs to damaging her auto rickshaw to assaults, Chithralekha has had to fight to continue to make a living.
After the LDF government's move to reclaim the land, Congress leader VM Sudheeran hit out at the CPI(M), accusing the party of being anti-Dalit.
"Ever since LDF government came to power, it has been showing its anti-Dalit face. CPI(M)'s new revolution is in taking back the land UDF government allotted to Chithralekha, who has fought against gender and caste discrimination in CPI(M) stronghold," Sudheeran wrote.
Lauding Chithralekha's prolonged and brave fight, Sudheeran took a jibe at the CPI(M) by saying:
"CPI(M) seems to be taking tough stand against the BJP for atrocities against Dalits. Now in Kerala, seems like CPI(M) is on a race with BJP in attacking Dalits."