As Dalits held a massive protest in Ahmedabad on Sunday against public flogging of their community members in Una over skinning a dead cow, a young man from the community, who consumed pesticide during a protest in Saurashtra a few days ago, died in a hospital.
Twenty-seven-year-old Yogesh Sarikhd was one of the two dozen people, who attempted suicide in Saurashtra to register their outrage over humiliation of their community members by cow vigilantes.
Despite cloudy weather and waterlogging at Acher ST Depot Ground in Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, nearly 10,000 people assembled at the venue. The Dalit leaders wanted to organise the rally in the proximity of Ahmedabad District Collector’s office, but they got permission to hold it at Sabarmati only.
Around 30 different Dalit organisations operating from across the State have come together under a platform — Una Dalit Atyachar ladat Samiti — not only to protest atrocities against Dalits at Una but also to raise plethora of other issues related to their community.
At the mega rally, Dalit leaders decided to hold a ‘padyatra’ from Ahmedabad to Una in order to create awareness on various Dalit issues. The padyatra would start on August 5 and reach Una on the Independence Day. Former IPS officer of Gujarat cadre Rahul Sharma said he would not only lead the padyatra but also hoist national flag at Una on August 15.
Dalits present at the rally also pledged they would not remove carcasses lying on streets. They also demanded arm licences for self-defence in order to avoid Una like atrocities on them in future.
Dalit leader and lawyer Jignesh Mevani demanded that culprits in the Una case should be punished under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to Mevani sweepers or Safai Kamdars working with local bodies should be given the benefits of sixth pay commission. Special courts must be set up for the speedy disposal of atrocity cases, he added.
Though the rally was described as non-political by organisers, political tint was clearly visible during the protest. Mevani, who has emerged as face of Dalit protest, is associated with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s political outfit Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Former IPS officer turned practicing lawyer Rahul Sharma had taken on the previous State Government lead by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He took early retirement a year back. Earlier this year the State Home Department had slapped on him a show-cause notice for departmental misconduct and keeping with him crucial CDs related to the 2002 Gujarat riot cases.
Moreover, the presence of at least three local Muslim leaders at the rally was eye-catching. Meanwhile, the Samajik Samrasata Manch - an arm of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-has called a meeting at Una in which religious leaders will participate.