Dalits resort to snap strike

A procession had been organised to mark Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanthi celebrations. The procession was supposed to pass through the main thorough fares of the City.
The event was inaugurated near the Travellers’ Bungalow by District In-charge Minister Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan.

The deputy commissioner and other officials were also present during the inauguration. After the inauguration, the procession began. As the procession reached B B Road, the leaders of the Dalit organisations realised that the district in-charge minister and the deputy commissioner were not accompanying the procession. They had stayed back. The leaders were hurt by their absence and immediately resorted to a snap strike.

Procession halted
The dalit leaders immediately halted the procession and sat on the road, staging a dharna. They alleged that the Ambedkar Jayanthi was celebrated only to appease the dalits. All these functions were organised just for namesake. Neither the ministers nor the officials had any respect towards Dr Ambedkar.

They were very casual in their approach towards such programmes, the members alleged.
They gheraoed the deputy commissioner, who arrived on the spot to convince them. Later on, after a dialogue with the deputy commissioner, the dalit members withdrew their strike.

Procession continues
Dalit leaders K C Rajakanth, Sudha Venkatesh, Gangadhar, Venu and several others took part in the dharna.