Challenging the Gujarat government, Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (NDRF) chief Jignesh Mevani said that they would take to the streets in agitation if their 14 demands are not met at the earliest. Led by Mevani, the community has asked for withdrawal of cases against the youth of the Dalit community and provide English schools in every ward of the city.
On the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, on April 14, Mevani led a rally that began the movement for the 14 demands. Notably, as the assembly elections approach and agitation from Patidar community intensifies, the state government has started withdrawing cases related to the community. Now Dalit society has also come forth.
MLA Jignesh Mevani participated in the Lalkar rally on the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and threatened the government with agitation if all the demands were not met. He said, “Dr. Bhimrao Babasaheb Ambedkar had drafted one-of-a-kind constitution, that was aimed at establishing a secular socialist democracy in India, where all the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden of any caste or religion was given equal rights. Despite the constitution, under the RSS rule of these so called fundamentalists, dalits, tribals and minorities were deprived and did not get their basic rights.”
Furthermore, Mevani noted that efforts are being made to divide this society on the basis of caste and religion. Una incident, Thangad massacre, Bhanubhai Wankar’s suicide in the state were all still unresolved. The state of Safai Karamcharis is pitiful. He challenged, “But we are RSS and BJP government, Modi and Patel. We warn the sahib’s governments that if our 14 demands are not met, we will once again hit back with the full strength and unity of the Dalit community.”
Demands of the Dalit society
- Withdraw cases against Scheduled Castes
- Build English school in every ward in government school
- Release report of Sanjay Prasad committee after Thangad massacre on atrocities on Dalit society
- Provide benefit of up to 8 lakhs through government schemes in the state
- Stop the practice of fixed salary in the state
