The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday voiced its continuing opposition to the ongoing auctioning of recovered government land by staging a protest rally.
 Party district committee secretary Prakash K said though Chief Minister  had agreed with the party’s contention that the recovered land could be distributed among landless poor in the State, the government was persisting with auctions.
“We have submitted 60,000 applications by the poor for land.
The government should make sure all recovered land is allotted to the poor or create social amenities, including schools and hospitals,” Mr Prakash told Deccan Herald. He said the auctions were attracting poor response from bidders.
Protesters, who began the rally at Chikkalalbagh, later handed over a memorandum to Special Deputy Commissioner Shantappa. “He (Shantappa) has told us the concerns raised would be looked into. Hence, we have cut short the protest, which was originally scheduled for two days,” Mr Prakash said. The activists called for scrapping of the recently  ration cards, which they claimed, was a “direct attack on the food security” of the poor.
 “The process under which the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families are identified is unscientific. All poor should have the right to 14 essential food items under the Public Distribution System (PDS),” Mr Prakash said.
Vehicular movement at Kempegowda bus stand.