Dalit organizations should come together to defeat BJP: Jignesh Mevani
Bengaluru: Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani said that the main agenda of dalits, tribals and women should be to defeat Modi and BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, for which all dalit organizations should come together.
Speaking at a meeting of dalit activists of South India at the Central College Senate Hall here on Thursday, he said that “Our eyes are blindfolded. We need to remove that and come together to defeat the communal and fascist forces. I have been telling this repeatedly. I will tell the same thing till the communal are defeated”, he said.
“Every day, dalits, oppressed classes, progressive people were subjected to exploitation and harassment. What was the use of keeping the ideologies of Ambedkar, Marx and Lohia. We have been fighting against the communal forces and other evils with separate flags and are being killed by the communal forces. Gauri Lankesh, Kalburgi, Dabholkar and others were killed. Umar Khalid suffered gun attack. I have been facing threats. We have accepted that fascism is the biggest threat in the society. Even then, we are not coming together under one banner to fight against the fascism. Why? Dalit leaders are being arrested. The people who have been fighting for the dalits and tribals are branded as urban naxals. But the dalit organizations have been observing silence. People clap when I speak and click selfies. When it comes to protest and fight, everybody will keep silent”, he said.
Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad was arrested in Uttar Pradesh a year ago, but none of the dalit organizations protested it. When the dalits were attacked in particular states, the dalit organizations stage protests there and keep quiet. But when such incidents happened in other states, the dalit organization would not it seriously due to which dalit movement has seen a set-back. In Karnataka, all dalit organizations should forget their differences and come together to build a Nava Bharat, he appealed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not working. So, only dalit movement could highlight his mistakes. At this moment, in order to mislead the dalit movement, false cases are being booked against the dalit leaders and making false propaganda that the dalits have been supporting the naxals who are planning to kill him, he said.
Which naxals have sent lakhs of dalits after Unao incident? Which Maoists have sent lakhs of dalits who gathered after Rohith Vemula’s death? Who sent the dalits against SC/ST Atrocity Act? All have come to the movement voluntarily. But the central government has been attacking those who raise voice against it. So, the main agenda of the dalits should be defeating RSS and BJP, he appealed.
Former Advocate General Prof Ravivarma Kumar said that if there were no dalit judges in the judiciary, the dalits would not have justice. So, dalits should be appointed for the vacant positions in the judiciary. “If we want reservation in judiciary, then Constitution should be amended. If others are in that position, they would not allow the amendment. So, first dalit judges should be appointed and bring in amendment later”, he said.
Resolutions
- To strengthen the Atrocity Act
- Withdraw false cases booked against dalit activists
- Releasing Chandrashekar Azad of Jai Bhim Army of Uttar Pradesh
- Implementing reservation in promotion for dalit employees
- Reservation for dalits in private sector
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
