Mysore/Mysuru: The Pragatipara Dalit Okkoota has threatened to boycott Lok Sabha polls if parties and candidates do not assure of addressing issues such as land, housing and unemployment concerning Dalits and fulfillment of other just  demands.

Addressing a press meet here recently, Okkoota District President M. Shivanna Kandegala said that influential land owners should distribute lands that they have usurped across the State, among  the poor and the landless.

Wanting the Government to issue tilling rights to poor and marginal cultivators, Shivanna said that the authorities should also distribute houses to the shelterless and register a criminal case against those misusing and misappropriating funds meant for the welfare of SC/ST communities.

He also demanded filling up of 1.32 lakh backlog vacancies in the State, free education to poor children, job reservation in the private sector and annulment of  false cases registered against progressive activists, among others. He reiterated that the Okkoota will be forced to boycott LS polls if the authorities, political parties and candidates do not give any assurances regarding reddressal of these demands.

Okkoota office-bearers Anusha, Basavaraju and Mahesh Gattuwadi were present at the press meet.