The statement reads, “The Gujarat government should, apart from taking strong action against the culprits in the Una incident, ban the activities of the cow protection committees”.
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The Aam Aadmi Party Chief claimed that it was not an “isolated” incident and “atrocities” on Dalits were being committed across Gujarat. We have to create moral values in people and this can not be done just by political parties.
He also dwelt on the need to associate social and cultural organisations in the task of uplifting weaker sections and said societal issues can not be solved by leveling allegations.
Contending that blaming each other is “no solution”, he said, “Our government will not tolerate any physical violence or verbal abuse against dalits”.
Trinamool Congress delegation to visit Gujarat over Dalit protests.
The Dalit outfits kept up protests across the state against the assault of some community members on July 11 for allegedly skinning a cow at Una in Gir-Somnath district. Dalits are actually not involved in slaughter of cows, but are only doing their traditional business of leather, while they (vigilante groups) refrain from confronting those involved in slaughter, they said. Suresh also demanded a JPC to probe into the Gujarat incident. At least 500 protesters have been arrested from across Gujarat although, fearing a major impact in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country, the police force has not been allowed unrestrained use of force at this stage at least. “We have to condemn those elements”, he said while asking members to rise above partylines to fight against such injustice.
What is to like to be a Dalit in Gujarat? .
Earlier, raising the matter, Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress held the BJP government in Gujarat squarely responsible for the incident.
Rajnath Singh said a special public prosecutor has been appointed and the state government intends to prepare a chargesheet against the wrongdoers within 60 days. “Was the act of their MP Bhagwant Mann, who released a video of Parliament on Facebook, in collusion with Kejriwal government?” he said. “It would have been nice if they themselves would have filed an FIR (first information report) against him”, Mayawati said.
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As soon as the house met, opposition members from various parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Trinamool Congress, and the Congress raised the issue and said they had submitted notices for a debate. “Compensation and government jobs should be given to those beaten up”, the Chief Minister said.
