Leader's outburst irks Dalits at Ambedkar Jayanthi event

The contractors supplying food at Scheduled Caste hostels are Dalit leaders, yet, the residents of the hostels are deprived of good quality food, accused local Dalit leader Vijaya Kumar.

He spoke out during the programme at T Chennayya Rangamandira observing the 121st birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar on Saturday.

His allegations, however, led to commotion, disturbing the flow of the programme, which began at 3.15 pm.

Dalit leaders Dr M Chandrashekhar, Pandit Munivenkatappa and Chalapathi spoke during the event.

Kumar, who spoke next, expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of food provided at hostels for scheduled caste students. “Dalit leaders have taken up contract for providing food at the hostels, but they are cheating by depriving students of their communities of quality food,” he added.

Midway

Even as he was speaking, however, Dalit leaders who were part of the audience started objecting to the allegations. Many of them even climbed on the dais and besieged Kumar.
Some of the Dalit leaders also challenged Kumar demanding that he ‘provide records of his property before making allegations’.

The sudden change in situation took the District In-charge Minister Varthur Prakash and Deputy Commission Manoj Kumar Meena by surprise.

The Superintendent of Police, Ram Niwas Sepat, however, took charge immediately, rushing to the steps to the dais, to prevent members of the audience from climbing on stage. The DC and tahsildar Muniveerappa, who were still on dais, also tried to pacify the angry audience.

After about 10 minutes of confusion, during which many persons among the audience left the hall, Vijaya Kumar’s speech was cancelled. The programme continued peacefully.
‘Anti-Dalit policy’

Ambedkar Jayanthi was observed in Malur on Saturday in the midst of protests by Dalit organisations accusing the taluk administration of implementing anti-Dalit policies.

The taluk administration had unanimously decided during the preparatory meeting on April 2 to honour 10 Dalit achievers. The invitation to the programme, however, carried names of 23 BJP activists in addition to 10 achievers.

Upset by the ‘anti-Dalit policy’ of the administration, activists of taluk Dalit organisations boycotted the programme. Instead, they sat outside shouting slogans against the taluk administration.

S N Krishnaiah Setty, legislator, meanwhile arrived for the formal programme, involving garlanding the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at the park near the bus stand. He continued with the ceremony amidst shoutings by the protesters.

Activists demand land

Dalit activists staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kolar on Friday, accusing the Central government of failing to live up to its promise of providing land to Dalits.

The Central government had promised to distribute three-fourths of its additional land among Dalits on the occasion of Dr B R Ambedkar’s birth centenary. But, it has taken no move in this direction so far, alleged members of the District Human Rights’ Forum for Dalit Freedom.

“It is already two decades since the Central government declared in 1992 to reserve and distribute government land among Dalits and tribals. But the process is yet to begin,” the protesters said and urged the government to implement the plans at least now.

“People, who have submitted forms 50 and 53 under Survey number 65 of the gomala land in Hirekarapanahalli in Kasaba hobli of Bangarpet taluk and are carrying out cultivation, are yet to get the cultivation chits.

In contrast, one person from Bangalore has encroached upon about 100 acres of land under Survey number 157 in Balamande gomala of Boodikote hobli. The government should take action to gain the land back,” they urged.

The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner R S Peddappaiah.