Dalit leaders voice concern

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 19

As tension continues to simmer between Dalits and Thakurs in Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur following violence on caste issues, there have been sharp reactions from the Dalit community leaders in the region.

Akali Adampur MLA Pawan Tinu took a dig at UP Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi and said, “He has had won enough of appreciation. Now that majority of Dalits have voted for the BJP, it is time that he must make them feel secure. The violence is not a good sign for the country, especially in the biggest state where the ruling party has won with such a big mandate. He must build a consensus between the two warring communities or else it may affect the integrity of country and even have repercussions in Punjab”. The Dalit leader of the SAD did not mince words against the Chief Minister from his own alliance partner.

Jalandhar Congress MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh said, “This is the third incident of its kind in Saharanpur in just one month. These incidents of casteist fights must be checked.” Former MP and Congress vice president Satnam Kainth too has termed the incidents as a planned attack against the Dalit community. He has called for a change in the mindsets of the people and an immediate intervention by the government.

In relation to the incidents, representatives of the Chamar Mahan Sabha said these incidents should be looked into and the way the government had been ignoring and sidelining the concerns of the Scheduled Castes was palpable and disheartening. Sabha president Paramjit Singh Kainth said, “The BJP-led NDA Government has been ignoring the interests of the Scheduled Castes since its coming to power in 2014. There have been innumerable incidents in the recent past concerning the atrocities and discrimination against the Scheduled Castes all over India. These incidents are increasing at an alarming rate and the government has been unable to provide a solution or a way to avoid such disgraceful situations.” Kainth said the Chamar Mahan Sabha and its related organisations would join in a protest to be organised by the Bhim Sena at Jantar Mantar on May 21.

“The SC community voices have been left unheard and ignored in the past and protests like these will enable us to make our voice heard loudly and proudly,” he said.