People’s Platform for Dalits Assertion, TN
Press Release
Demonstration in solidarity with Dalit Asmita Yatra, Gujarat
Date: 14th August 2016
Time 10:30 a.m
Venue: Near State Guest House, Chepauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
People’s Platform for Dalits Assertion, Chennai, Tamil Nadu extends solidarity with the Dalit Asmita Yatra – Azadi Kooch, organized by the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti (Una Dalit Committee to Fight Atrocity) in Gujarat, which began in Ahmedabad on 5th August and is expected to complete 400 kms when it reaches Una on 15th August - Independence Day. This assertion of Dalit communities for their rights is also a struggle for their dignity and self-respect, free from the shackles of casteist hegemony.
The Dalit Asmita Yatra has been organized to condemn the heinous crime, the violence by unscrupulous casteist-communal elements meted out against the Dalit communities. The objective is also to consolidate Dalit’s right to fair share in land and resources across Gujarat. The agitations began in the aftermath of the flogging of four Dalit youth in Una district of Gujarat by a mob of gau-rakshaks(cow-protector) who accused them of killing a cow for the purpose of skinning it. Against this barbaric act by Communal-Casteist forces, Dalits have raised a pertinent slogan, “Gai ki loom aap rakho; hume humari zameen do” (You keep the cow’s tail; give us our land)
The various forms in which the protests are taking place include suicide attempts by members of Dalit communities, dumping of cow carcasses in front of collector office and militant street mobilization across Gujarat. The unprecedented solidarity across the globe has shaken the Sangh Parivar and the BJP government both at level of State of Gujarat and Centre.
Indeed, the Gujrat Dalit Asmita Yatra has re-awakened the peoples’ consciousness towards the conscientization process for annihilation of caste. In fact, Tamil Nadu has also felt the tremor. It is the need of hour in Tamil Nadu for Dalit consolidation to end unabated atrocities and violence against the Dalits in the recent times.
In Solidarity with Dalits Asmita Yatra, the People’s Platform for Dalit Assertion, Chennai Tamil Nadu puts forward the following demands:
· Una victims should get justice; the culprit should be booked under the New PoA Act (Prevention of Atrocity Act, 2014).
· We demand allocation of 5 acres of land to those who have boycotted (or will boycott) practicing skinning of dead animals, manual scavenging and similar dehumanizing forced ‘occupations’.
· Provide land to all the landless Dalits and Adivasis (with title deed to women).
· The people resorting to violence and extortion in the name of “Gau Raksha”should be severely penalized and put behind bars.
· Across India, District level special fast track court should be established to address the atrocities cases, as promised under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act, 2014.
· Withdraw the cases filed against the Dalit activists during the agitations.
· SC/ST sub-plan budget should be utilized for the development of SC and ST communities.
We stand in solidarity with all of the above demands.
This Yatra in its entirety aims at bringing justice to all victims of atrocities against Dalits (including Una victims). We extend unequivocal solidarity to Dalit AsmitaYatra and the larger cause of fighting against the casteist and communal forces. We condemn the violence against Dalits in all forms and demand the State to ensure social justice to Dalits and Adivasis.
Long Live Dalit Unity! Towards Annihilation of Caste!!
Jai Bhim!
For Organizing Team,
Lakshmanan, (98845 27359) and Deepa (88703 53852)
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