The Khordha unit of the Aam Aadmi Party organised a Mashal Julus demonstration here on Sunday in protest against nationwide attacks and atrocities on Dalit communities and farmer suicides in Odisha.
AAP activists alleged that attacks on Dalits are occurring due to callous attitude of the BJP-led Central Government and farmers are committing suicide due to BJD Government’s sheer negligence.
They demanded that Rs20,000 per acre of land be given to drought-hit farmers and Rs 20 lakh to the family of each farmer who committed suicide due to crop loss and loan burden. Besides, they demanded that all loans of farmers be waived in view of droughty situation.
“As many as 23 farmers committed suicide in Odisha in the last one month and the Government’s non-responsiveness has resulted in widespread distress among the farmers,” said the activists.
They too demanded that Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh be sacked and arrested soon for allegedly comparing Dalit victims with dogs.
They protested house burning of a Dalit family in Sonepat district of Haryana allegedly by upper caste people. Two kids were charred to death in the incident. They too protested Haryana police beating a Dalit boy to death. The boy was accused of stealing two pigeons.