On Sunday, thousands of people gathered at the Jantar Mantar to protest against the alleged carnage on Dalits in Saharanpur. The entire protest was organized by an organization renowned with the name, Bhim Army.
Demanding justice for the cruelty against Dalits from the Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath the protestors acclaimed that the state government has been cruel and partial against Dalits.
The recent developments occurred after there was a clash between the Dalits and the Thakurs in Saharanpur during the celebrations of the birth Anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
“We have no expectation from the government. So many people are in the hospitals not even a person has come there. This government is against the Dalits. We need justice and justice for the people who are lying in the hospitals,” a leading newspaper quoted a protester as saying.
The protest was organized despite the disapproval by the Police. As the organization told the police that they are expecting a gathering of more than 50,000 people, the Police fearing a clash denied permission.
The incident that called the entire ruckus happened on May 5 when a Thakur procession wearing saffron scarves and celebrating the birth anniversary of 16th-century Rajput king Maharana Pratap, entered the Jatav settlements.
As per the Dalits, it was Thakurs to attack first. There were two dozen people with injuries and amid all the ruckus a Thakur was killed mistakenly by one of his brethren, the Dalit leader claimed.
It was also alleged that the Thakur procession than ransacked 25 houses and burned them. These houses belonged to the Dalits. The Thakur’s also injured 15 members of the Dalit community. The incident called a rising Dalit assertiveness in the region.
It all started when the Thakur men wanted to celebrate the birthday of Maharana Pratap with a musical procession which was opposed by the Dalits as they opposed it because of lack of permission from the authorities.
Around 180 Dalits on Thursday embraced Buddhism, “in protest against the atrocities on Dalits under the Yogi Adityanath government”.
This May 14, over 50 Dalit families at Moradabad, also opposed the Shabbirpur violence and acclaimed that if the harassment of Dalits will not stop in the country by Saffron Brigade they will abandon Hinduism.
BSP Supremo Mayawati has also demanded the government to shun “saffron appeasement”and to call justice in the state.
“Murder, violence and playing with law and order has become a common sight in the name of saffron appeasement of the BJP government which has also caused fear and terror among the people,” Mayawati had said in a party release.
