In Pics: 10-day Azaadi Kooch Dalit March to Una Is On Its Way

Marching from Ahmedabad to Una, a distance of 350 kms, thousands of Dalits are protesting atrocities.

The 350-km long march called ‘Azadi Kooch’ started on Friday and will end in Una on 15th August. (Photo: Rahul Sharma/Facebook)

Thousands of Dalits are marching from Ahmedabad to Una for 10 days in a bid to mobilise the community against Dalit atrocities in Gujarat. The 350-km long march called ‘Azadi Kooch’ started on Friday and will end in Una on 15 August.

The march will end on 15 August in Una where thousands of Dalits will converge to observe ‘independence’. We want to give the message that we will not tolerate discrimination against the community anymore. During the march, we plan to meet people and tell them to demand jobs under Digital India and Skill India initiatives which Prime Minister Modi has been publicising. Never before in Independent India, have Dalits asserted their demands like this.

Jignesh Mewani, Una Dalit Atyachar Ladal Samiti

The 10-day march covers a distance of 350 km. (Photo Courtesy: March for Una)

After a group of Dalits were beaten in Una for skinning a dead cow, there have been widespread protests in the Dalit community. (Photo: Rahul Sharma/Facebook)

Lower castes in Gujarat have refused to tend to the remains of deceased cows to protest against the beating up of their Dalit brethren in Una. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Shabnam Hashmi)

Following the Una incident, several incidents of Dalits attempting suicide in the state have also been reported. (Photo: Rahul Sharma/Facebook)

At least six people have been arrested in connection with the flogging in Una. (Photo: Rahul Sharma/Facebook)

Dalits of dholka block of Ahmadabad district taking pledge not to depose dead cattle. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Shabnam Hashmi)

Around 5,000 Dalits from across the state gathered in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati area and appealed for unity in the fight against injustice and atrocities on Sunday. (Photo: Rahul Sharma/Facebook)