Dalit Protest With an Eye on 2019 at Delhi’s Parliament Street

Live updates from Parliament Street where Dalit groups from across the country have converged to challenge the RSS

Cow vigilantism is one of the key issues raised at the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Samiti rally. (Photo: The Quint) 

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Several dalit organisations from states across India came under the banner of the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh rally to formally launch a national level movement. Leaders from left organisations also joined the rally today at New Delhi’s Parliament Street. Prakash Ambedkar, Sitaram Yechury, Jignesh Mevani, Bezwada Wilson were among the prominent speakers at the rally.

Highlights From the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Rally

• Consolidated dalit movement launched at the national level
  
• Prakash Ambedkar claimed that this is a socio-religious movement
  
• Left organisations, primarily the CPI and the CPI(M) lend their support
  
• Resolution to systematically counter caste oppression adopted
  
• Jignesh Mevani gives out call for a Rail Roko programme on 1 October 2016
  

“Modi’s Heart is in Manu Smriti and in Reliance”

Kanhaiya Kumar opened his speech at the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Rally with a jibe at PM Narendra Modi. “Modi ji ka mann manuwadi hai, unka Reliance mann hai” (Modi’s heart is in Manu Smriti, his heart is in Reliance). Calling the attendees ‘Ambedkar’s soldiers’, Kanhaiya said the PM’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is fake, and that ‘Ambedkar’s soldiers’ will get rid of the dirt of casteism.

Here’s a 360 degree view of the protest rally at Parliament Street.

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 7:06 PM

(Photo: The Quint/Lijumol Joseph)

(Photo: The Quint/Lijumol Joseph)

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

“There are Many Other Rohiths Out There”

I’m not here just as Rohith’s mother. I am every Rohith’s mother. There are still many Rohiths out there.

Radhika Vemula

(Photo: The Quint) 

Congratulating Left parties for defeating the ABVP in the JNU Students Union election, Radhika Vemula begins her address in Telugu to call on Left progressive and Dalit organisations to unite against casteism.

We have had enough of living under oppression. This country is does not belong to any one caste, religion or community. I want to ask the Prime Minister – if he considers himself an Ambedkarite, why hasn’t Rohith got justice? 

Radhika Vemula

Radhika Vemula ends her address with “Our vote counts. Please keep that in mind.”

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 3:09 PM

Dalits to Protest RSS’ ‘Shastra Pooja’ in Uttar Pradesh

Jignesh Mevani, who spearheaded the ‘Una Chalo! march on 15 August in Gujarat, calls on Dalits to protest against RSS’ plans to conduct a ‘shastra pooja’ in UP.

“Bhim ke rath ko aage badhane ke liye, humein rail rath ko rokna padega”, says Jignesh Mevani to announce a massive Rail Roko protest on 1 October. He called on protesters to buy tickets en masse and pull the chain to stop the train when on board.

Jignesh Mevani also announced a massive protest rally at Delhi’s Ram Leela Maidan on 27 November.

Jignesh Mevani clarifies he’s not at the event in support of any political party. (Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 6:06 PM

Sheetal Sathe, Ginni Mahi and Sujat Ambedkar spoke to The Quint’s Abhirup Dam on their expression of protest.

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 6:58 PM

‘Fight Between Democracy and Dictatorship”

The Quint’s Abhirup Dam caught up with Prakash Ambedkar right after he finished his speech. He asked him about why the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Samiti is shying away from a direct political role. Prakash Ambedkar says his socio-religious movement is aimed at making people aware of their choices when they vote in the 2019 general election.

The changes that are being proposed by RSS are basically in the field of religion and in the social sector. There are little changes in the economic sector. This is a new agenda can be looked at only through a socio-religious angle. We are putting up an alternative to the RSS and educating the people that this is a fight between democracy versus dictatorship. If they want a dictatorship, then they can vote for the RSS and Mohan Bhagwat will be the dictator. If you want a democracy, then we have to see that political parties survive in this country. This is what people will decide in 2019.

Prakash Ambedkar to <b>The Quint</b>

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

Who Moved My Beef?

The resolution to be adopted at the rally also mentions the increase in the number of “attacks by vigilante groups in the name of Gau Raksha on Muslims and Dalits.” Here is an excerpt from the resolution:

There are also concerted efforts to control the food habits of people by bringing legislations for cow-slaughter ban and beef ban. BJP-ruled states in Haryana and Maharashtra have sought to give a cloak of legal sanction to such acts by enforcing beef ban. The ban on sale of cattle and beef ban is pushing millions of farmers into distress by preventing them from selling cattle during drought and buying new ones when their earnings rise after monsoon.

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

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CPI(M) member Subhashini Ali says “is manuwadi sarkar ki ulti ginti shuru ho gayi hai.” (The countdown has begun for this casteist government).

The rights of women and Dalits are under threat. We will unite against this government and take this movement forward.

“It’s the blue and red flags against the manuwadi sarkar”, says CPI(M) member Subhashini Ali.

Sujat Ambedkar, great grandson of BR Ambedkar and a professional drummer at the Dalit Swabhmian Sangharsh Rally. (Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

No Longer a Passive Votebank

The Dalit rally gains political significance considering assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab will be held in less than six months from now. In UP, 21% of the electorate is Dalit. In Punjab, a considerable 30% of the electorate is Dalit.

A banner reads, “One-tenth of the Union Budget should be allocated to education”. (Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 12:32 PM

“The RSS believes they are unstoppable. But together we can put them on the right path”, says BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar.

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

The Resolution

The resolution for adoption at the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh reads:

Atrocities on Dalits have continued with increased intensity ever since the RSS led BJP government headed by Narendra Modi has come to power. The NCSRB data compiled show that crimes against SCs and STs are up by 40%...

It also condemns the “institutional murder of Rohith Vemula” in Hyderabad University, the flogging of four Dalits for skinning a dead cow in Una, the killing of Dr Narendra Dhabholkar, Comrade Gobind Pansare and Professor Kalburgi.

A copy of the resolution to be adopted at the rally. (Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

Presence of Politicians at “Socio-Religious” Event Bound to Raise Questions

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury is among a host of Left leaders who are expected to speak at the event. The presence of politicians is bound to raise questions. Prakash Ambedkar who is spearheading the movement, had in a conversation with The Quint insisted that it is meant to be a “socio-religious movement, not a political one.”

(L-R) Activist Subhashini Ali, Prakash Ambedkar and Sitaram Yechury on stage. (Photo: The Quint) 

Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 5:23 PM

The Quint’s Abhirup Dam, Esha Paul and The Quint Hindi’s Kaushiky Kashyap are reporting Live from Parliament Street on the protest by Dalit groups that have organised themselves under an umbrella organisation called the Dalit Swambhiman Sangharsh Samiti.

According to the CSDS, one in every four Dalit voters picked the BJP during the 2014 General Election. Protesters wave banners demanding their due. (Photo: The Quint)

The Dalit Swambhiman Sangharsh Samiti is protesting:

• Against the cultural nationalism of the RSS
  
• For self-determination
  
• Against khap and honour killings
• For landless dalits to be brought under the land redistribution scheme
• For reservation in the private sector

Hundreds of protesters from across the country have come together to demand a right to livelihood, and freedom from discrimination. (Photo: The Quint)

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Updated at:16th Sep, 2016 at 7:06 PM