HYDERABAD: Speakers at the 54th death anniversary of revolutionary hari leader Hyder Bux Jatoi have said that Sindh has been destroyed by dacoits who are products of jagirdrs, waderas and elected representatives.

They were sharing their views at the programme organised by Sindh Hari Committee in Kalhoro Colony here the other day.

The committee leader Samar Jatoi that Hyder Bux Jatoi led a consistent struggle for the prosperity of Sindh. Dacoits’ culture had destroyed Sindh, he said.

He said that the dacoits were products of jagirdrs, waderas and elected representatives, who only made hollow promises. Agriculture sector had been destroyed and today peasants were facing hunger, starvation and closed schools, he said.

He said that pen had been snatched from the children of haris and labourers and weapons had been given to them. Attempts were being made to push Sindh’s progressive politicians and nationalists against the wall, he said.

National Party leader Taj Marri said that a struggle was required today on the lines of Jatoi’s ideology for the rights of peasants and workers.

Ahmed Nawaz Inquilabi pointed out that Jatoi led the struggle of Sindh’s working class and got the Sindh Tenancy Act, 1950, passed. During his struggle Sindh took great strides in politics and enlightenment, he said, adding that Jatoi had inculcated awareness among workers, labourers and peasants.

Watan Dost Jamhoori Party leader Gulsher Shar said that Sindh took pride in Hyder Bux Jatoi’s struggle. Today excesses were being committed against workers and peasants, he said.

Awami Jamhoori Party president Khadim Talpur said that today Sindh was going through critical times. It was time all people got united to launch a struggle for the rights of Sindh, he said.

The gathering adopted a resolution, rejecting ‘wadera shahi government and calling for true peoples’ representative government in Sindh. It called for an end to lawlessness in upper Sindh region where dacoits were ruling the roost.

It said that Special Investment Facilitation Council had been illegally constituted to usurp Sindh’s resources. It should hence be disbanded and all lands handed over to SIFC should be returned to Sindh.

It said that Sindh government should end unemployment in the province by bringing about an industrial revolution and called for provision of clean drinking water to people. Effective drainage should be ensured in LBOD, RBOD and Manchhar Lake.

It demanded an end to direct outlets in Sindh to ensure judicious distribution of water and said all ‘ketis’ in riverine area should be dismantled and land should be distributed among landless peasants. Housing schemes should be launched for underprivileged class in the cities of Sindh, it said.

Another resolution demanded an end to forced conversion of minorities’ women and girls and ensure recovery of Priya Kumari. Special planning should be made for areas like Thar, Kachho, Kohistan and coastal strip and provision of amenities for people.

It said that tribal clashes should be controlled, projects for women development should be launched, illegal immigrants should be repatriated, natural resources should be utilised for Sindh’s development and Punjab’s usurpation of Sindh’s water should end.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024