Around 35 different Dalit organisations have come on a single platform — Una Dalit Atyachar ladat Samiti — and decided to organise a mega rally in Ahmedabad on July 31 to protest the atrocities against Dalit youngsters near Una town of Gir Somnath district.
Under the platform, they announced not to collect animal carcasses in Gujarat and launch a State-wide agitation to refrain from sanitation work. These organisations have asked for permission for a ground near Ahmedabad collector office to organise the mega rally.
"The safai kamdars will not take up brooms. large number of people working with local bodies in sanitation-related work will join the protest," said a Dalit leader.
The Dalit organisations are demanding that those convicted in Dalit atrocities should be exiled from their respective district, not only in Gujarat but across the country. During the rally, they will demand to book those responsible for beating the Dalits in Una under Atrocities Act, including the people involved in conspiracy.
"Dalits will not collect and remove animal carcasses in Gujarat. The State Government must ensure possession of land to them for survival. Those who have illegally occupied land allotted to Dalits should be bookd under Atrocities Act," said Dalit leaders, adding that the State Government should make all sanitation workers permanent and extend benefits of the Pay Commission.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the BJP locked horns on Tuesday over the incident of atrocities against seven Dalit youths in Una. The Opposition Congress staged dharnas in all 33 district headquarters across the State. Congress workers assembled in all the districts from 10 am to 4 pm near Collector offices to protest against the 'oppressive' State Government. The president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Bharatsinh Solanki said that as a result of the authoritarian stance of the Government, Dalit youths are attempting suicide. Blaming the Government for the atrocities, the workers said the State police have only arrested 16 of the 45 people involved in the incident.
Reacting on the Opposition's protests, Gujarat BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya said that the Congress party was politicising the Una incident and trying to make social rift among different castes. "For more than 55 years, Congress leaders remained dependent on Dalit vote bank, but they didn't bother to honour Ambedkar with Bharat Ratna. He was honoured with the apex civilian award only after AB Vajpayee's suggestion," said Pandya.