India - A rally of 6500 in Bathinda - defending the rights of Dalits

SALUTE 6500 RALLY OF LOK EKTA ON APRIL 28TH IN BATHINDA WHICH WAS OF GREAT QUALITATIVE SIGNIFICANCE TOWARDS DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF DALITS. METICULOUS EFFORT ON ASSERTING THE CORRECT CLASS APPROACH AND NOT JUST MAKING IT OUT TO SIMPLY BE A DALIT ISSUE IN ISOLATION. GREAT EMPHASIS PLACED ON UNITY OF DALITS WITH OTHER OPPRESSED SECTIONS LIKE POOR PEASANTRY AND WORKERS.SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT BY LANDED PEASANT COMMUNITY WHICH IS PROGRESSIVE.

One of the most significant rallies in the revolutionary political history of Punjab took place recently in Bathinda .

Inspite of it being the harvesting season in it's peak time around 6000-7000 people gathered for the demonstration.Had it not been for framers being busy with working on the fields around 10000 atleast would have gathered.Around 3000 yesterday comprised the dalit agricultural labourers. Other participants comprised the industrial workers,landed peasantry ,youth and intellectuals.It did complete justice to the revolutionary democratic tradition of Punjab where there was trend of outstanding clarity in revolutionary democratic perspective in rallies.Very significant that so many democratic sections marched forward to support the dalits, particularly the landed peasants and the industrial working class.

The speakers explained the fascistic nature of the state's policy in diluting the SC rights for dalits and promoting anti-Restoration policy.They explained how necessary reservation rights were for the opressed dalit community and how ruling class sections were trying to bend the SC right provisions towards their own favour.All emphasised the need for dalit unity with all democratic and other opressed sections and that even the issue of umemployment should not be seen in isolation as just a dalit question.Trey summed up how the New Economic policy destroyed all the democratic aspirations .of the dalit community
.Intellectuals also defended the dalit rights from the point of view of general democratic rights and not just from perspective of revolutionary class struggle.With great intensity the participants listened to the speakers being able to relate the speeches with their day to day struggles.In the rally the participants displayed the venom or burning rage within their hearts of the anti-people or anti-dalit policies of the ruling classes,shimmering the torch of resistance.It was a tribute to the painstaking work of the leaders and activists of the Punjab khet mazdoor Union and the Bharatiya Kisan Unionj.(Ugrahan) and partially the Naujwan Bharat Sabha.Speakers included Jhanda Singh Jethuke, Zora Singh Nasrali, Narinder Kumar Jeet, Parmider Singh, Zora Singh Nasrali and Rupinder Kaur.

To me,amongst of the most inspiring and well -organized revolutionary democratic events to be staged in the entire country.Speaks volumes of massline practice of groups like Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union and BKU(Ugrahan).

Tribune News Service-

Bathinda, April 28
Members of various Dalit organisations under the banner of the Lok Ekta March gathered in front of the District Administrative Complex here and staged a protest against the Central government for “diluting” the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The protesters raised slogans against the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They alleged that if the decision is not rolled back, they would intensify the protest.

Members of the Bharat Kisan Union (Ekta) Ugrahan and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union also participated in the protest.

Later, the protesters took out a protest march from the ADC to Fire Brigade Chowk, passing through Fauji Chowk and Hanuman Chowk.

Convener of the Lok Ekta March Lacchman Singh, who is also general secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, said, “A number of incidents are being reported in which Dalits are targeted, but instead of making the law more strict, the government had diluted the Act.”

He said, “It was an anti-Dalit policy of the Central government. It is gradually trying to weak the SC/ST reservation policies. We will never let this happened.”

Rupinder Kaur, former member of national council of applied research, JNU, said, “Since the BJP came to power, a feeling of insecurity among the SC/ST and other oppressed classes have increased. We feel that there should the decision should be reviewed in national interest.”

She said the Centre had to immediately file a review petition in the Supreme Court so that the SC/ST Act remained effective.

Demands

The Decision of “diluting” the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) be rolled back.
Education and employment for all.
The Dalits should get land.
Cases registered against the Dalits during the protest on Bharat Bandh be cancelled.