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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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
