Ambedakar's ideology inspires Pakistan's Dalit Insaaf Tehreek in Pakistan

AMRITSAR: Taking inspiration from the life of Dr BR Ambedkar, popularly known as Baba Sahib who had inspired Dalits and other low castes to launch a campaign against social discrimination and equal rights for them, the Dalits of Pakistan have now launched Dalit Insaaf Tehreek (Dalit Justice Movement) to fight against the discrimination against them not only by Muslims but also by the upper caste Hindus who constitute only a fraction of largest minority community of Islamic nation.
While talking to TOI over phone from Karachi, leader of Progressive Human Front, Chander Kolhi informed that various Dalit groups of Pakistan including Bheel Intellectual Forum (BIF), Pakistan Meghwar Council, All Sindh Kolhi Association, Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Ranshal Group), Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Nemdas group), Scheduled Caste Federation of Pakistan (SCFP), Baghri Welfare Association, Oad Samaji Tanzeem, Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN), Dalit Adab Forum, Qaumi Awami Tehreek,and Tabkati Jidojehad gathered to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb at Mirpurkhas and unanimously announced to launch Dalit Insaaf Tehreek which he said could take shape of a full fledged Dalit political party in Pakistan.
Dalits in Pakistan comprises of nearly 42 castes and they are victim of double discrimination - both at the hands of upper caste Hindus which constitutes around 15 per cent of total Hindu population of Pakistan and also on hands of Muslims as nearly 70% of total Dalit population either work as farm help or does other menial jobs under rich landlords who often exploits them.
He informed that Dalit groups held a conference of First Dalit Transnational Pakistan, celebrated birth anniversary of Baba Sahib and also distributed copies of biographgy of Dr BR Ambedkar translated in Sindhi language. "Dalit manifesto was also discussed and copies of it were distributed," he said. He informed that the participants unanimously decided on the name of Dalit Insaaf Tehreek and a meeting would be held to form constitution after formation of a political party.
Discrimination, denial of justice, humiliation on hands of upper caste Hindus as well as Muslims have led to incidents of suicides among Dalits especially in the districts of Tharparkar in Sindh province, he said adding that those who could afford had migrated to foreign countries searching for better life.
"With the launch of Dalit Insaaf Tehreek, there is a renewed hope in the hearts of Dalits of Pakistan and we aim to achieve our goal of equal rights in the Pakistani society under a single banner" said Kolhi.