This story is from August 15, 2016

Dalits give a clarion call to shun carrion disposal

Dalits in Gujarat issued an ultimatum to the BJP government that the community would resort to state-wide rail roko protests if they were not given land as per their rights.
Dalits give a clarion call to shun carrion disposal
Dalit Asmita Yatra, a march from Ahmedabad to the town of Una to protest an attack on members of the Dalit community. (AFP photo)
UNA: Dalits in Gujarat issued an ultimatum to the BJP government that the community would resort to state-wide rail roko protests if they were not given land as per their rights.
Hundreds of dalits and activists from across India congregated in Una where the week-long dalit asmita yatra culminated in form of a massive rally on the Independence Day.
The week-long dalit asmita yatra that began from Ahmedabad culminated in Una town on Sunday, making it the biggest ever congregation of dalits in Gujarat’s recent history where the community leaders issued an ultimatum to the Gujarat government
“You take cows’ tail, give us land,” was the clarion call given by the dalit leaders who found support from JNU leader Kanaiya Kumar and family of Rohit Vemula, the Hyderabad student who had committed suicide, and renowned documentary maker Anand Patwardhan.

Una was converted into a fortress after the dalits en route to Una were reportedly attacked at many places on Saturday and Sunday. There were reports of tension in Samter village after stones were pelted on a vehicle. Majority of the cow vigilantes arrested for the July 11 flogging incident are from Samter.
Jignesh Mewani, the young leader who has emerged as the face of dalit uprising in Gujarat, demanded five acres land for every dalit family. “if the government does begin the process to give dalits the land, we will resort to an unprecredented rail roko andolan,” Mewani told the gathering.

He called upon the community to completely stop skinning and disposing dead cattle and his call was followed by hundreds taking a pledge to shun their traditional work.
Earlier, Balubhai Sarvaiya, whose two sons were among the four dalits brutalized on July 11, hoisted the national flag and said that their fight will continue till the end.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too came under fire from the dalit leaders who said the sheer scale of dalit protests had forced him to speak out on the issue. “Modi did not utter a word when three dalit youths were killed in police firing in Thangadh town in 2012,” Mewani said.
Addressing the gathering, Kanaiya Kumar said that dalits of Gujarat have punctured the much-hyped Gujarat model of development. “We want freedom from casteism and brahminical culture,” he said.
Radhika Vemula’s, mother of Rohit, said, “I am yet to get justice but the dalit movement in Gujarat has forced the chief minister Anandiben Patel to resign. I m here so that no other dalit children face what my son did.”
The dalits also found unprecedented support from the Muslims who participated in the rally in huge numbers and slogans like “Dalit Muslim bhai bhai” rented the air.
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About the Author
Vijaysinh Parmar

Vijaysinh Parmar is principal correspondent at The Times of India, Rajkot, and reports on the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Apart from regular assignments in Rajkot, he travels extensively in rural area to report on the "other Gujarat". He reported on the drinking water crisis in interiors of the state in 2008, forcing the government to swing into action. He has also reported on the practice of untouchability still prevalent in parts of Gujarat.

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