New Delhi> A DELEGATION of the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch comprising of Subhashini Ali (vice-president) and Nathu Prasad (joint secretary) met the president of India on June 27 and handed over a memorandum giving details of the reign of terror unleashed against dalits in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan in the aftermath of April 2.
The governments are acting in a vindictive manner. While more than 10 dalits were killed during the bandh, no one responsible for their deaths including members of the Sangh Parivar who were photographed openly using firearms on the 2nd have been arrested. The families of those killed have received no compensation. In fact even sympathy has not been demonstrated by the governments concerned.
On the other hand, thousands of dalits have been arrested and are being kept in jails, denied bail. Many more thousands are being threatened with arrests under draconian provisions. In Uttar Pradesh, minor dalit boys have been arrested and they are being held along with adult criminals.
The delegation also apprised the president about the way in which those responsible for the violence after the Bhima-Koregaon celebrations have gone scot-free while five activists who were helping those injured, looted and attacked by the upper caste mobs have been arrested under draconian charges including sedition.
The delegation requested the president to intervene in order to see that justice was done to innocent dalits in jails and facing false cases. He listened very sympathetically and stated twice that he would definitely ask for reports and do whatever was possible.
