Congress leader and Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani has said that he can be shot down just like NCP leader Baba Siddique. He accused Additional Director General of Police (SC/ST cell) Rajkumar Pandian of misconduct and warned that if he or any member of his family is “encountered,” Pandian will be held responsible.
Speaking at a press conference in Ahmedabad on Monday, Mevani alleged that during a meeting on October 15, Pandian mistreated him, ignored concerns about Dalit land grabs in Kutch, and dismissed him from the ADGP’s chamber.
He, along with his team, had gone to raise the issue about illegal land encroachments in Kutch, where influential groups have reportedly taken over land allotted to Dalits under the Gujarat Agricultural Land Ceiling Act.
Mevani alleged that he was asked to leave my mobile phone outside the chamber. When he questioned the legal justification for this demand, Pandian allegedly became agitated and asked him and his team to leave immediately, stating “they should not return”.
He further claimed, “Pandian doesn’t know how to behave properly with an MLA,” expressing anger over Pandian’s dismissive attitude toward the issues facing Dalits in Gujarat.
Mevani told Vibes of India that miscreants associated with the RSS and BJP are forcibly grabbing land in Kutch and Surendranagar. Despite repeated requests over the last two months for action under the Atrocities Act, Mevani stated that no progress has been made.
“SP Gandhidham and IG Kutch Chirag Koradia are not listening,” he told VOI, highlighting the ongoing violence against Dalits, which in some cases has resulted in deaths.
He has further announced plans to lead a group of 600–700 people to the Director General’s office, demanding Pandian’s suspension.
“If anything happens to me or my family, Pandian will be responsible,” Mevani warned, likening his situation to that of Siddique, who was allegedly murdered last week in Mumbai’s Bandra.
Dalit Groups Demanding Suspension
Earlier, the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (RDAM), alongside other Dalit organisations, had demanded Pandian’s removal within 24 hours due to his alleged “arrogant” behaviour.
Subodh Kumud, RDAM’s state convener, criticised Pandian’s refusal to engage with an elected representative like Mevani, adding, “If he is behaving this way with an MLA, imagine what he would do to common Dalits.”
Dalit groups are now threatening to campaign against the BJP in the upcoming Vav by-elections and the Maharashtra assembly elections. A delegation of Dalit leaders is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the Director General of Police on October 23 to press for Pandian’s removal.
