Taking a dig on Gujarat Police, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Adami Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed that though there were more than 40 people involved in the alleged atrocities against Dalits in Una, police have only arrested 16 people.
The Delhi Chief Minister was in Gujarat and visited Dalit youths who were brutally beaten up by self-styled cow protectors. Kejriwal landed in Rajkot and went to the civil hospital to meet injured Dalits. From Rajkot he drove down more than 200 km and reached Mota Samadhiala near Una town to meet other victims and their family members.
He alleged that the local police was inactive when the Dalits were beaten but took the culprits into custody only after the Dalits started their protests and media raised a hue and cry. He demanded that the other 40 to 50 people who took part in the incident should also be arrested. Atrocities against Dalits have taken place earlier too in Gujarat but no one has been punished or jailed, said Kejriwal, adding that in the Una case the culprits would be released on bail as soon as the media would divert its attention to some other issue.
He demanded that an example needs to be set by giving stern punishment to the culprits. The Gujarat Government did not act in time because the attack on Dalits was blessed by people at the top, he said, adding: “Dalits were thrashed in front of public. If such an incident is happening in the presence of the administration it means those culprits were supported by some powerful lobby.”
Replying to a question on BJP allegation that he was doing Dalit politics, Kejriwal answered the difference between the two parties was that the AAP fought for justice while the BJP was protecting the accused. Just like Rahul Gandhi, who visited the village on Thursday, Kejriwal too had a cup of tea at Dalit victim Balubhai Sarvaiya’s residence and also gave his personal mobile number to his daughter Vanita. Kejriwal also demanded that the Gujarat Government should give a permanent job to Sarvaiya’s daughter who is doing a nursing course.
Meanwhile, protests over the atrocities against Dalits continued on Friday as incidents of stone-pelting, arson and road blockades were reported in parts of the State.
At least four more suicide bids were also reported in the past 24 hours that include three in Botad and one at Porbander in Saurashtra region. According to sources, more than 30 Dalits have attempted suicide in the past one week in Gujarat.