Dalit unrest grips Gujarat

Opposition accuse govt of being anti-Dalit

• The four men who were attacked by vigilantes in Una town last week worked in a tannery. In the video, they were seen pleading that they were tannery workers who were only skinning the dead animal. Dalits in the state say they earn their livelihood from skinning cows that die naturally, buffalos and other animals, and vowed to fight anyone trying to stop them from doing so.
• CPI(M) asked the BJP government in the state to act against culprits and demanded a “ban” on activities of cow protection committees which it termed as “rabid communal outfits”. “The attack in Una has once again highlighted vicious role played by so-called gau raksha committees which are nothing but rabid communal outfits that target Muslims and Dalits engaged in cattle trading and the skinning of dead cattle. “The Gujarat government should, apart from taking strong action against the culprits in the Una incident, ban the activities of the cow protection committees,” the party said in a statement. It also demanded the state government to instruct police to stop using “repressive” measures against those protesting “atrocity” on Dalits.

The issue of Dalit unrest in Gujarat continued to rock the Indian Parliament  as opposition members accused the government of being anti-Dalit.

Both houses saw protests from opposition parties, even as the Modi government made statements in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha stressing that the Gujarat government took appropriate action to tackle the situation.While the Rajya Sabha lost the entire day to protests and adjournments, the Lok Sabha witnessed an uproar but the issue did not lead to adjournments.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, addressing the Congress parliamentary party had announced that the party would take up the matter. In the Rajya Sabha as soon as the house met opposition members demanded a debate on the issue. Even as Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien was scrutinising the notices, opposition members trooped near the Chairman’s podium raising anti-government slogans. Clarifications came from Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot who said the Gujarat government has taken action against the culprits. The minister said an FIR has been registered and a probe was also underway. He also regretted the suicide by a Dalit, who was one of the five who consumed poison during protests in different parts of Gujarat.

The minister added that the issue should not be “politicised”.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, making a statement during zero hour, termed as “unfortunate” the attack on Dalits at Una on July 11.

Condemning the attacks, he said Gujarat Police had acted swiftly and nine people have been arrested so far. Lauding the role of the BJP government after the incident, he said the state government is also trying to set up a special court for speedy trial of the case.

“But the state needs to take the permission from the high court in this connection,” Singh added.