Dalits congregate at a rally in Gujarat to express dissent to BJP against Dalit atrocities

Ahmedabad August 1:Members of the Dalit community organised a massive congregation in Ahmedabad to send a message to the state government over the suicide of Dalit man, thrashing of four Dalit tannery workers by self-styled cow vigilantes in Gujarat  and recent atrocities against the Dalits in the country.

I was pained by the attack but I’m elated today that the pain that has been inflicted on my family has brought together the entire Dalit community,” said Jeetu Sarvaiyas, whose brother was among the four men attacked in Una, over 350 km from Ahmedabad.

More than 12,000 people attended the ‘Maha Sammelan’ today. “Dalit youths who have been protesting against the Una atrocity have been arrested under false charges.

We demand dropping of those charges or else protesters in more numbers would hit the streets in Ahmedabad,” warned Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani.

Dalits account for seven per cent of Gujarat’s population but they could dent the BJP vote if coupled with the Patidar community who account for 17 per cent of the electorate and have challenged the state over their demand for reservation in government jobs and schools.

Also with a larger Dalit electorate in Punjab – which will also host elections next year – the protests in Gujarat could spell trouble for the BJP which rules the state in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD.

The Dalit anger comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led several efforts to commemorate and honour Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar in what many describe as unprecedented outreach to the community by the BJP.

But the BJP in Gujarat denied that the government is rattled. “It was an unfortunate incident and Dalit anger is justified. We are with the victims. We will continue to work for Dalits in the state,” said BJP leader Kirit Solanki.

However, with Dalit groups now threatening to launch a protest march from Ahmedabad to Una, the worries for the Anadiben Patel government are far from over.

BJP leaders admit that attacks against Dalits in party-ruled states, abuse of Dalit leaders or the Opposition’s efforts to paint BJP as an anti-Dalit party — such as in the Rohith Vemula issue — would be “extremely damaging” for the party.

The Gujarat incident, involving the sensitive issue of cow slaughter, particularly had the potential to “consolidate Muslims and Dalits” in UP against the BJP, they fear. “That would be fatal to the party’s prospects and drown all efforts by PM Modi to placate the Dalit community,” said a BJP leader.

Dalits form a crucial vote bank in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, constituting more than 20 per cent and 32 per cent respectively of the population. The BJP leadership and government have initiated a number of schemes to woo the community like the Dhamma Chetna yatra.