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In the wake of some incidents of Dalit wedding processions being stopped by some groups in parts of Gujarat recently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on Wednesday, 15 May, assured to take stern action against such elements.
The Congress, however, said that such "hollow promises" by the government fails to provide "justice" to the Dalits.
In another incident the same day, the wedding procession of a Dalit bridegroom at a village in Sabarkantha district had to be provided police cover after members of the Thakor community objected to the groom offering prayers at a local temple. The procession, however, passed off peacefully, police said.
Talking to reporters in Gandhinagar, Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja, accused the Congress of creating a rift between Dalits and other communities.
"The Gujarat government is always with the Dalits. They also have the right to take out wedding processions like others. Our government is also concerned about some recent incidents. I want to assure you that stern action will be taken against those who were behind these incidents," Jadeja said.
Jadeja also urged people from all walks of life to work with the government to establish and preserve social harmony in the society.
Meanwhile, BJP's Dalit MLA and film actor, Hitu Kanodia, appealed to the people to treat everyone equally.
Slamming the BJP government over this issue, Gujarat Congress in-charge, Rajeev Satav, claimed that the government only gives hollow promises instead of taking action.
Dalit MLA Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday, 14 May, accused the Gujarat government of being "casteist" and failing to ensure the safety of Dalits after some of their marriage processions were targeted by members of other communities.
He said the Vijay Rupani government in the state was a "mute spectator" while Dalits were facing discrimination. he said.
He said it was Rupani's responsibility to appeal to people to stop behaving in a "hateful manner" against Dalits.
NCP leader Shankersinh Vaghela Tuesday condemned recent incidents in Gujarat of Dalit wedding processions being stopped by some groups, saying such discrimination was a blot on Hinduism.
He urged people as well as Hindu seers to take up a campaign to establish harmony among all castes and communities.
"I condemn such acts of not allowing Dalits to take out wedding processions. This is blot on Hinduism. Law alone cannot deal with this. The entire society needs to come together to fight this evil and establish harmony," he said.
"I urge Hindu seers and saints to focus on this issue and spread awareness among the masses in order to end this discrimination of Dalits," Vaghela told reporters here.
He went on to warn that such discrimination would eventually force Dalits to leave Hinduism and convert to other religions.
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