A charade of eating food at Dalit’s home to cover up casteism
Two issues- village stay and stay at Dalit’s homes- were politically debated upon quite a bit when HD Kumaraswamy was the chief minister of the state. The subject of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy staying at a Dalit’s house was discussed both positively and negatively. It was termed as another way of encouraging untouchability and thus was an indirect insult to Dalits. At the same time, some experts opined that by staying at the homes of his people and listening to their problems, a chief minister could be closer to the people. In spite of such debates, village stay programme has brought some popularity to Kumaraswamy.
After the visit of Pejawar Mutt’s seer to dalit colonies grabbed the headlines. The seer provided an ‘opportunity’ to dalits to have his ‘paada pooja’ at dalit colonies. In Christianity, there is a practice that Pope himself would wash the feet of his devotees once in a year. Though touching the feet of another person or washing them is a symbol of slavery, there is a difference in a senior religious head washing the feet of his devotees and the devotees washing the feet of a seer. If the Pope washed the feet of his devotees, it would symbolize the equality. However, devotees washing the feet of the religious head would be the symbol of inequality. Had the Pejawar seer washed the feet of his dalits after visiting their colonies, it would have given a big message to the society. But the Pejawar seer has exhibited the washing of his feet by the Dalits as a favor to the community. This has further insulted the Dalit community instead improving their condition.
Now, it is the turn of central BJP leaders. They have been carrying out this charade of staying at dalits homes. Because of the RSS, the BJP has been facing the wrath of dalits across the country. After Koregaon Vijay Diwas, this anger exploded publicly. Close on the heels of mass atrocity on dalits in several parts of the country, the central government has tried to weaken the SC/ST law through the court. Opposing this vehemently, Dalits plunged into the streets and turned North India into a war field. It was reported that not only police but also BJP leaders fired against protesting dalits in which more than 10 dalits were killed. At this moment, some of the Sangha Pariwar leaders have talked about changing of reservation and Constitution. Not only this, Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde has termed the protesting leaders as “street dogs” against which dalits have protested in front of BJP national president Amith Shah in Karnataka. Across the country, dalits have started opposing the BJP and Sangha Pariwar. In order to pacify the dalits, the BJP and Sangha Pariwar have started another farce of “having food at the homes of dalits”. But there is a sign that even this would boomerang.
Any act of the BJP and Sangha Pariwar lacking honesty would once again salt the wounds of Dalits. The issue of an Uttar Pradesh BJP Minister having food at a house of dalit has become a point of contention. The leader who visited the house of dalit had food brought from a hotel. After knowing that the leader had even brought bottle water from the outside to drink, there is no further need to discuss his intentions. Statements of some BJP leaders are really shocking. One MP of Uttar Pradesh said that BJP leaders having food at the homes of dalits is like Sri Rama having food in their houses. According to them, the dalits would be purified if the BJP leaders had food in their houses.
Interestingly, Union Minister Uma Bharati herself condemned such statements,“I am not Sri Rama to purify dalits”she says. This statement is also an indirect insult to the dalits. What all these BJP leaders are saying in essence is that dalits are not pure or holy. Declining to have food at a mass programme organized at Naugaon, Uma Bharati said that “I am not Sri Rama to make dalits holy. We will become holy or pure only when dalits came to our homes and have food”, she added. This statement has maturity. Those who have been thinking that having food at dalits’ homes itself is a revolution or achievement are fixed in the filth of Manu theory. At the same time Uma Bharati also added another sentence that making Dalit leader Ramanath Kovind as the President itself is an instance that BJP has good relationship with dalits. Though such a statement seems to be right, one would suspect the very move of the party which has faith in Manu Smriti, in appointing a Dalit as the President. They might have conspired to change the Constitution through a Dalit President. On the lines how the Sangha Pariwar has been utilizing the dalits and backward classes, BJP might have been using dalits to implement anti-dalit law, remove reservation and change the Constitution. Dalit community would have to face more problems from a Dalit President who has been greatly influenced by Sangha Pariwar ideologies. Why are the attacks of Dalits increasing even after making a Dalit as the President of the country? Why did the court take a decision to make the SC/ST Act toothless? Why have they killed the protesting Dalits? Uma Bharati has to answer these questions.
Dalits will not become pure by having meals at the houses of Dalits. Efforts should be taken to ensure all rights entitled to dalits in the Constitution. Dalits would themselves improve their condition. Let the BJP leaders tell the dalits of this country about the programmes taken by the government in this regard. Apart from this, there is no much difference between what Gandhi termed Dalits as ‘harijan’ and BJP leaders having food at the homes of dalits to make them holy or pure. Ambedkar had asked when Dalits are the children of the God, what about the others. By having food at the homes of Dalits, the BJP leaders have been left scratching as to why their ‘graciousness’ has been rejected.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
