Dalit grps come together over gau-rakshak attacks

Lucknow: Dailts in Uttar Pradesh are now up in arms. Several Dalit as well as other organisations in Uttar Pradesh joined hands on Tuesday under the banner of Dalit Alpsankhyak Shoshan Mukti Morcha in Lucknow to fight the cause of atrocities being meted out to minorities in the name of gauraksha.
Representatives of as many as 10 organisations from both the state as well as nation claimed to bring together a state-wide movement in UP in the coming months. As a joint demand, they urged those Dalits who are involved in the profession of skinning dead cows, to withdraw from the caste-based work following assaults. The platform also demanded action against gau rakshaks for attacks on SCs and minorities and land for landless Dalit farmers.

“The movement will not stop and the reality of the actual Gujarat model will be brought out for all to see, not just in one state but in the nation gradually,” said VK Rawat, UP convener of Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), VK Rawat. “In two to three months, we will hold a protest on the subjugation that we have faced for hundreds of years, more so in the garb of protecting the cow,” he added.

DSMM came together with nationally working NACDOR (National Confederation for Dalit Organisations), Aadhar Shila, Dag (Dynamic Action Group)- a Dalit movement, PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties), CORD (Centre for Objective Research & Development), SSVM (Swachhkar Samaj Vikas Manch), Rihai Manch, Ambedkar Mahasabha and SC/St Teachers’ Welfare Association.

“Our demands are clear. Both the state and union government should take strict action against self-assigned gau rakshaks for assaulting us. Five acres of land should be given to landless Dalits for their rehabilitation and better support and equipment should be given to those involved in sanitation work,” said Rawat.
While the platform was formed a day after the Gujarat yatra of Dalits reached Una from Ahmedabad to proclaim actual independence, it was also about the assault of two Dalit workers in Takrohi area of Lucknow on July 28 by gau rakshaks on suspicion of cow slaughter.

Source: The Times of India