Now, Dalits react by staging more rallies, raise concerns in goverment
Mumbai: Even as processions by Marathas to demand reservation and halt misuse of the SC/ST (Prevention of atrocities) Act have drawn huge crowds, counter rallies seeking implementation of the Act in letter and spirit too are getting massive support.
Alarmed by the Maratha morchas, prominent dalit organisations under the banner of the Atrocity Samarthan Samiti have begun taking out processions across the state. The first procession was taken out in Latur, followed by another in Beed. While Dalit activists marched to the collector’s office in Nanded on Sunday, a procession is on the cards in Parbhani in a day or two.
“We will not tolerate dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in any manner as demanded by the Maratha leaders. In fact, we have demanded that the law be implemented in letter and spirit and all the cases registered under the Act be fast-tracked,” a leader of the movement said.
The increasing mobilisation along community lines are now posing a huge challenge to the government and raising concerns about a risein social tensions. “People are agitating over issues that could be resolved amicably. No doubt the Kopardi episode (gang rape and murder of a minor) was serious, but some vested interests are blowing it out of proportion and giving it a completely different look,” chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said recently.
A convener of the Maratha agitation,however, countered that “every organisation or individual has a right to take out a procession. We took out processions for our cause, they too have a right, we will not interfere in their agitation”.
The demands raised at the Dalit rallies however are at odds with those highlighted at the Maratha morchas. It includes strict implementation of the SC/ST Act, disposal of all pending cases under the Act in a time-bound manner, status quo on reservations. In addition, the Dalit groups have sought to build an axis with the Muslim community by championing their cause for reservation in jobs and education.
Source: The Times of India
