Jignesh Mevani, a Dalit activist from Gujarat, will flag off ‘Bengaluru Jatha’, the rally of tribals from Diddalli to the state capital, on April 7.

The rally also appears to be the snowballing of a movement for the tribals’ justice.
D S Nirvanappa, president of Bhoomi Matthu Vasati Hakku Vanchitara Horata District Committee, told media on Monday here that the jatha is aimed at convincing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about the travails faced by tribals in Kodagu district.

The jatha, which is expected to reach Bengaluru on April 14, will culminate with a convention to mark the birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B R Ambedkar, who is regarded as the champion of Dalits. It will be followed by an indefinite strike,” explained the president.

Nirvanappa blamed Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza for failing to chalk out a solution by arranging for rehabilitation at the same site at Diddalli from where the tribals were evicted recently.

“Four months have elapsed but the district administration has still not succeeded in understanding the agony of the evacuees. With the rainy season fast approaching, the tribals stare at a spectre,” he added.

Although the issue was brought to the notice of Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya in the past, he turned out to be a windbag, without keeping his promise of convening a meeting, the president criticised.

Ameen Mohsin, the Social Democratic Party of India district unit president, accused the authorities of pushing the real issue under the carpet, followed by political conspiracies. Now that the tribals have resorted to meet the chief minister, the district administration is negating the issue, he added.

Tribal leaders Appu and Mutthamma Jayappa and K Monnappa were present during the press meet.