Dalits hold demonstration to press their demands

The yatra began in Ahmedabad on August 5 to assert rights of Dalit communities which were waging a struggle for dignity and self-respect from the shackles of “casteist hegemony.” It is expected to reach Una on the Independence Day. It has been organised to condemn the heinous crime, violence by casteist and communal elements against the Dalit communities.

The demands of the demonstrators, who included activists, artistes and children, were: justice for victims of atrocities in Una (where four Dalit men were beaten up on July 11 by cow vigilantes for allegedly skinning a dead cow), land for landless Dalits and Adivasis (with title deed to women), allocation of five acres of land to those who have boycotted (or will boycott) skinning of dead animals, manual scavenging and similar dehumanising forced ‘occupations,’ imprisonment of cow vigilantes ( gau rakshaks ) who indulge in threats and violence, special fast track courts at district level as mentioned in the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 2014), withdraw cases filed against Dalit activists during agitations and full utilisation of SC/ST sub-plan budget for the communities.