The chief spokesperson of the State Congress, KK Mishra, called the upcoming State Government-organised ‘Shabri and Dalit Mahakumbh’ a joke. According to him, in the State, the backward class is being harassed and their God- like figure BR Ambedkar was called impure. Thus it makes no sense to celebrate Dalit Mahakumbh in the State; it seems like only a political move, said Mishra.
In his statement, Mishra said that there is a steep rise in crime against people of backward class and they live in fear. Boycott of Dalits, rape of their women and assault by upper class and not letting them use the village hand-pump proves the atrocities that take place on a daily bases. This proves that feudality still exist in our society.
“No complaints are registered on behalf of Dalits until a higher authority is involved,” said Mishra. He further asks will the Mahakumbh solve these issues for Dalits.
Mishra further wants to know why the two IAS officers Ramesh Thete and Shashi Karnawat are being punished, is it due to their being Dalits. He also said that the Ghatwani village gets dirty water as there are 200 Dalit families which is just 15 Kilometer away from Alirajpur District head office.
In Ghatwani village, people are considered un-touchable and they are not allowed to fetch water from the hand pump. If they attempt to get water from the pump they will have to face atrocities from the upper class. The information on this village is already with the authority but no one dares to confront the upper class in that village. Then how is ‘Shabri and Dalit Mahakumbh’ in favour of Dalits, asks Misra.