Today in Gujarat remained tense after a bandh call given by Dalit rights organizations evoked partial response. Up in arms against brutal assault on its community members, the Dalits intensified their protest with eight persons attempting suicide on Tuesday, in addition to those seven who attempted on Monday.
Dalits gave the strike call, which was supported by Jan Sangharsh Manch and Dalit Movement of India and other organisations. Buses were set on fire in Rajkot district, Surendranagar, Amreli, Junagadh and Saurashtra. In Saurashtra, schools and colleges were shut and State transport bus services were suspended. Angry Dalits have torched over a dozen vehicles in the last two days. Several areas in Ahmedabad also looked deserted. Municipal Schools closed in eastern Ahmedabad. Over 200 municipal transport bus services were suspended in the city.
Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel, whose government was caught off guard by the protests, visited the victims in Una. A group of Dalits was beaten up by a vigilante group for skinning a dead cow in Gir Somnath district on July 11. Authorities have deployed security personnel in major towns in the Saurashtra region where the unrest has already claimed two lives.
Gujarat DGP P.P.Pandey has constituted a special investigation team to probe the incident. Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and dalit leader Ramdas Athawale are expected to visit the victims on Friday. Also The Congress party has announced that vice-president Rahul Gandhi would visit Una on July 21 to meet the victims.
Meanwhile, Parliament witnessed unruly scenes over alleged atrocities against Dalits in Gujarat. Seventeen persons have been booked under Atrocities Act. Union social justice minister Thawar Chand Gehlot has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to victims’ families.
