Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday accused the Gujarat government of failing to ensure the safety of Dalits after some of their marriage processions were targeted by members of other communities.
The Vadgam MLA, along with Navsarjan Trust and many other organizations, have announced state-wide boycott of Vijay Rupani-led BJP government and accused the government of being “casteist”.
Mevani and Martin Macwan of Navsarjan Trust said in Ahmedabad on Tuesday that these incidents happened despite the fact that in each of the cases police was informed in advance.
In last one week, there have been at least five incidents in which marriage processions were halted. The processions could be carried out only after the police intervened. This, however, was not before the arrangements made for the marriages had gone haywire. The upper caste people had opposed Dalits riding horses during marriage processions.
The incidents occurred in Khambhisar village of Modasa taluka in Aravalli district, Sitavada village of Prantij taluka in Sabarkantha district, Boriya village of Prantij, Lhor village of Kadi taluka of Mehsana district and Gajipur village of Vadali taluka of Sabarkantha district. Only in Mehsana, five arrests were made.
Mevani and Macwan lambasted Rupani and his ministerial colleagues, BJP MLAs elected on reserved seats, and the police for remaining mute spectators. Mevani also wondered as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from Gujarat, is silent.
Replying to a question, Mevani said that boycott of the government would mean addressing press conferences, carrying out programmes across the state and even approaching the Supreme Court, if necessary.
They demanded that Falguni Patel, deputy SP of Aravalli district be immediately suspended and a case be registered against her under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Patel had allegedly used foul language in the marriage procession in Aravalli. It is also alleged that she had entered the homes of Dalits and beaten up women. Unconfirmed reports indicate that her high-handed behaviour was because some people had “misbehaved” with her.
They have also demanded that all the police heads of the districts in which the incidents took place be charge-sheeted and elected representatives of the government go the villages and ensure that the marriage processions are taken out properly.
Macwan said that the very SC/ST Act for the Dalits means that preventive action should be taken. Responding to allegations that the activists were giving political colour to the issue, Macwan emphasised that the very fact that the elected wing in the state government is remaining silent and the processions were stopped despite prior information to the police is indicative of the fact that it is certainly a political issue.
As part of the future course of action, programmes have been organised on May 18, near Ahmedabad and on May 22 in Kadi taluka in which Dalits from across the state are expected to take part.
Asked if Congress leader Hardik Patel was approached for this, Mevani said that this is an important issue and an invitation is not necessary.
The Dalits, he held, were in a terrorised state in Gujarat.
