Online
\nLONDON
\nDalit groups from across the United Kingdom have called for the international community to take notice of extreme violence against millions of Dalits and other minorities by Narendra Modi\u2019s Hindutva government.
\nUK\u2019s key Dalit organisations came together for a large march bracing heavy rain on Saturday to protest against the incarceration of over 7,000 Dalits in Bhima-Koregaon, Maharashtra, who were picked up by the security forces after clashes and riots earlier this month. The Dalits had gathered to celebrate the historic January 1, 1818 event when a few hundred Dalit soldiers had defeated the massive Peshwa Army. As the Dalits gathered to celebrate, the upper caste Marathas, supported by the security forces, attacked the participants violently, killing one and injuring and maiming hundreds. At the London demonstration to show solidarity with the victims, the Dalit organisations were supported by progressive groups, including South Asia Solidarity Movement, demanding the release of prisoners and an end to attacks on women and activists. The protestors said that the continuing incarceration of Dalit Leader Chandrashekhar Azad was illegal and unjustified.
\nThey said that the slur on Dr B R Ambedkar by the Indian Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde and a threat to do away with the Constitution altogether had alarmed Indians all over the world who were worried that Modi had headed towards imposing Hindutvaism on the entire Indian polity.
\nThe protestors travelled from Birmingham, Bradford and London for the march and carried banners and placard which read: \u2018Our fight is for human rights\u2019, \u2018equal rights for Dalits\u2019, \u2018stop atrocities on Dalits\u2019, \u2018dynamite the Hindu scriptures\u2019, \u2018we stand together against hate\u2019, \u2018Dalit rights are human rights\u2019, \u2018value human life, not just cows\u2019, \u2018Hindutva is a threat to India\u2019s unity\u2019, and \u2018end caste violence against Dalits, now\u2019.
\nThe rally at the Parliament Square, Westminster, marched towards the Indian High Commission and throughout the way protesters chanted slogans against the atrocities being committed against Dalits, Muslims and Sikhs. At the Indian High Commission, no official received memorandum from the protesters which was pasted at the door of the High Commission.
\nThe memorandum called for the Indian government to bring the Hindutva leaders and activists who planned the violence at Bhima-Koregaon, Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ebute to justice. \u201cRelease the thousands of Dalits arrested in Maharashtra in the first fortnight of January, immediately drop the charges against them and launch a transparent public inquiry into the events of January 1 and 2. Immediately release Chandrashekhar Azad, the leader of the Bhim Army,\u201d signed by nearly a dozen Dalit and human rights groups.
\nSatpal Muman on behalf of the Dr Ambedkar Memorial Committee of Great Britain commented: \u201cMr Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, is a Dalit and is perceived as such. He is in a position to understand the plight of Dalits who are daily facing violence at the hands of upper caste. We are urging him to ensure exemplary punishment, according to the law, for all those guilty of inflicting violence against Dalits at Bhima-Koregaon;, and to take immediate and concrete steps to curb the rise of Hindu fundamentalism which is currently threatening the democratic fabric of India.\u201d
\nKeval Bharadia of South Asia Solidarity Group, one of co-organisers of the demonstration, said: \u201cIndia is turning into a republic of fear and violence, where mob-lynching by the Hindu supremacist forces is a common occurrence. The descent into fascism has meant a horrific increase in attacks on Dalits \u2013 but the President, Mr Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit himself, is silent. We urge him to speak out and stem this tide of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Online LONDON Dalit groups from across the United Kingdom have called for the international community to take notice of extreme violence against millions of Dalits and other minorities by Narendra Modi\u2019s Hindutva government. UK\u2019s key Dalit organisations came together for a large march bracing heavy rain on Saturday to protest against the incarceration of over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n