Dalits renew stir for land, block highways in Surendranagar
Rajkot: At least 60 dalits were detained from three different locations in Surendranagar town and nearby places on Monday after they blocked the roads while pressing for their demand for land. The protest was led by dalit activist Jignesh Mewani and Subodh Parmar. They also raised other issues like discrimination faced by the community in Surendranagar district.
According to police, even women from the community were part of the blockade on Surendranagar bypass, Ambedkar Chowk and near the collector’s office.
Under the banner of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, the dalits demanded justice for victims of police atrocities in Thangadh and sought immediate possession of land allotted to dalits. They claimed that though the government had announced allotment of land to dalits long time back they were yet to get its physical possession. They further alleged that the land in question was in possession of upper caste members of Surendranagar villages.
“Housing plots to dalits were announced during the Garib Kalyan Mela in 2006. The poor and needy are being ex cluded from the below poverty line list,” said dalit rights activist Subodh Parmar.
“Government has betrayed us after we called off the Rail Roko protest. They have not move to fulfil our demands as promised. So, from today (Monday) we have begun the road rook protests and it is likely to intensify in the coming days,” said Mevani.
Source: The Times of India
