Proposed rly track opposed

The plan will raze 516 houses belonging to dalits in Ambedkarnagar

“According to the plan, the houses of 516 dalits will be razed, and more than 4000 dalits will lose their homes, and will be thrown out to the streets. Over the last few decades, the State and Central governments have provided drains, community hall, temple, schools, anganwadi and library,” the protesters said.

Now, with this anti-people project, the railway department is planning to demolish all these structures, they added. The residents had earlier staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Ministers turn blind eye

Petitions had been handed over to Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa and Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily. But neither of them came to the dalits’ aid, they said.

“Change the plan so as to shift the track, or arrange for accommodating the displaced at a location of their choice,” they demanded. The protesters handed over a petition to Deputy Commissioner Anwar Pasha.

Assistant Commissioner G V Seenappa was present on the occasion. The protest was lead by Ambedkarnagar Welfare Association President Rajakant. Vice-president of the Association N Srinivas, Secretary M Venu, Assistant Secretary V Venkatesh, Treasury G N Narayanaswamy, Sriram, M Jayamma, Munikrihnappa and others took part in the protest.