From TV report the Odisha Chief Minister declared to give 1 lakhs to each victimized family as compensation. These are the victimized dalits:
| SL NO | Name of the Victims | Male No | Female No | Boy Age under 14 | Girl Age under 14 |
| 1 | Gouranga Suna | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Byasa Suna | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | Nilanchala Suna | 3 | 2 | - | |
| 4 | Rajhansa Suna | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 5 | Simanchal Suna | 1 | 2 | 4 | - |
| 6 | Trinatha Tandi | 4 | 4 | - | - |
| 7 | Dolamani Tandi | 1 | 1 | - | 1 |
| 8 | Sikun Bag | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 9 | Mahendra Suna | 6 | 3 | 1 | - |
| 10 | Lakhsman Suna | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| 11 | Mukhiaru Suna | 1 | 2 | 1 | - |
| 12 | Karunakar Suna | 1 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 13 | Bhadra Suna | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| 14 | Sankritan Suna | 2 | 3 | - | - |
| 15 | Akrura Suna | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| 16 | Madan Suna | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 17 | Pradeep Suna | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| 18 | Dalaganjan Suna | 1 | 2 | 3 | - |
| 19 | Tunu Suna | 1 | 2 | 3 | - |
| 20 | Kadam Sagadia | 1 | 1 | 4 | - |
| 21 | Kangres Sagadia | 2 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 22 | Shankar Sagdia | 3 | 5 | - | - |
| 23 | Rameshwar Tandi | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| 24 | Kalindri Suna | 1 | 2 | - | 2 |
| 25 | Tine Suna | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| 26 | Dhanu Suna | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | Biranchi Suna | 3 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 28 | Jaganath Tandi | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 29 | Pati Sagadia | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 30 | Dinesh Suna | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| 31 | Kanhu Suna | 3 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 32 | Pancha Suna | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | Kialash Suna | 1 | 1 | 2 | - |
| 34 | Gulapi Suna | - | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 35 | Firoj Suna | 1 | 1 | 2 | - |
| TOTAL | 65 | 70 | 41 | 13 |
This is a fact data we collected by the reasonable resources. There are more victimized people whose name is to be enlisted. These pictures of the incident in earlier post speaks about the caste violence and burnt houses.
1- The burnt materials are thrown out from the home-
These are the burnt and broken buildings. Documents, utensils and houses are destroyed. More than 4 crores of property have been lost.The helpless women and innocent children are in the Govt School (relief camp). These are the up dated news many more facts and details are yet to come……
For any help reach Manuski Activists AT : jadumanilion@gmail.com, dhratnakumar@gmail.com , 0827553438, 08806436110
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Odisha on Caste Fire: Updates
This morning DSP paid a visit to the relief camp for families affected due to Upper Caste Mob atrocity at Lathur in Bolangir. Camp is not quite far from the sight of atrocity. The atrocity sight is still under investigation for the total damage it cost both to man and infrastructure. RatnaKumar and Jadumani the on sight activist had a small talk with DSP.
Ratnakumar and his fellow friend Jadumani are now moving next to the district place, Bolangir to meet up with local activist to discuss how to respond to the present situation. DSP, Tahasildar and some other Government officials are expected to pay visit to the atrocity site and also to the relief camp.
Almost 161 Statements were recorded by DSP ,DWO. they also registered the loss of property which is still under survey.
Note: Ratnakumar will send the photos of the sight soon as he gets access to Internet.
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Lathur Caste Atrocity: Fact Finding Report
By Jadumani & Ratnakumar
Pic 01: Everything Finished, becouse I am Dalit', says a family man whose house is one among torched in an ghastly Caste Atrocity done by uppercaste mob in Bolagir
1.1 The situation
The present situation is pathetic. From the last four days justice is being denied to victims, rally by rally and protest by protest are happening in all around the districts of Odisha. Families are poorly contained in the Same Govt school. Innocent women children and men are having with same dress from last four days, the soap, oil, and all sanitation facilities are far from them. The feelings and emotions of victims Dalits have replaced into sorrow and suffering. All the relief work are insufficient to the victims people, still people do not have proper clothes to save themselves from winter or cold in the night time people sleep with cold without bed. Dalit down one generation back.
Pic 02: Sky is the roof for 50 families in Lathur now, Upper caste is cruel & Govt is insensitive wha else !
1.2 Govt Response
Still victims are poorly rehabilitated by local administration. Govt officials are distributing paltry amount relief. Intentionally wrong, Govt officials taking hardly any serious step forward . On the contrary they they assure something and doing something. They are and harassing and playing with already victimized Dalits.
Pic03: Doors to Humanity closed for them, they are Dalits !
1.3 At last few Arrests
42 men are being arrested for the incident so far. Recently the news came that 40 women from upper caste also got arrested as they were protesting against the police asking them to leave those who are arrested.
1.4 Massive Protest
Yesterday a massive really was led by Dalits of Odisha in the district of Bolangir, fearing the district collector announced a committee for relief. Simultaneously a team of local educated people formed a “Peace Committee” however people want justice not an artificial architecture of peace . In rest of Odisha, Dalits seeming to come together and uniting. There is wide support from different Dalit communities all over the district.
1.5 Demands of local people
These are the six demands:
1- To declare Bolangir District as a Atrocity prone area.
2- To arrest the Political Master brain behind Lathur House burning.
3- To provide New houses to all victims.
4- To give compensations such as all the furniture, materials things, gold, silver, clothes ornaments, property, and food grains.
5- To provide a govt service to each person of a victim’s family.
1.6 Ground Zero Pictures:
Please find following the Gallery of the pictures that potrays the deadly caste violence brings a fear to commoners. If this is India 25% of Dalits rae unsafen anytime their houses be burnt.
In Lathur village (bolangir) no Dalit Househols anymore there. What Central Government is doing many asking question. We seek explanation from INDIA, what next?
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- Pic 01: Everything Finished, becouse I am Dalit
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- Pic 02: Sky is the roof for 50 families in Lathur now, Upper caste is cruel & Govt is insensitive wha else !
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- Pic03: Doors to Humanity closed for them, they are Dalits !
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- Pic 04: House No 5
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- Pic 05: House No18
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- Pic 06: House No 22
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- Pic 07: House No 32
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We take pleasure in inviting you to ‘Grand Buddha Festival’ starting this month from 26th to 29th January 2012 at Diksha Bhoomi grounds, Nagpur (India). Please watch the Promotion Video that affirms the Vision of the Buddha Festival.
This is the second year of this festival. In the year 2011, in its very first year, the festival was planned on a grand scale and was attended by over 30,000 people in a span of four days – from 6th to 9th January 2011.
For details plz visit www.buddhafestivalnagpur.com/
The festival was conceptualized with the aim of celebrating and propagating Buddhist teachings, art, culture and heritage. The programs at the festival were also designed to fulfill the main aim behind the festival. It includes performances such as music, dance and drama by professional artists as well as competitions such as drawings, paper presentations to induct new generation into the teachings of the Lord Buddha. The festival being a formidable event in the Buddhist calendar of India. This year – equipped with learning from last year – the ‘Grand Buddha Festival Organising Team’ wishes to make the 4-day event even better. The team is global in composition and outlook and it intends to attract thousands of Buddhists from diffrent traditions.
Watch for the full coverage on LIVE TV 4 Social Change
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The supporters of the Upper caste Mob were the BJP supporter Agrawal community who own the Petrol Pumps in the region. The Petrol pumps have provided the petrol for FREE to burn the 50 Households of the Lathur. They have even suppiled the Liquer to the Upper caste Hooligans who have set the houses on fire wihout seeing the small kids in them. Had not they run away from the spot they would have turned into ashes in no time.
Women have been abused openly. The carreer documents of students have been burnt. Men have taken support into the forest. Ladies have taken support at the home of their community brothers in Scavenger caste groups.
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Our correspondant from Odisha, Bolangir has sent few pictures of the Burnt Remains of Households for whom the worth of the assets is more than their Life. This is the life taking inhmanity witnessed by many in Bolangir district. Lathor is silent today ! All the roads leading to Lathor are blocked by the Upper caste mob so that they can terrorise the situation in the region. The ornaments from the Burnt households are ransacked by the Upper caste Mob. The terrorised family have sought the shelter in local school. The proerty worth 5 Crore has been destroyed in wee hours.
The upper caste Mob is restricting the any kind of help in the region. They are said to have burnt even the FIRE BRIGADE VAN and have led the Fire brigade team run away from the spot, limiting the help within the rescue operations.
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Pic 01 : Cycle burnt to ashes
Do the people of India have privilage to dream a civil life? The answer is NO ; suggests the recent Atrocity done by Upper Caste Mob on Dalits, some of those have recently converted to Buddhism. Please watch for yourrself the remains of Caste_violance..
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Caste atrocity in Lathor, Bolangir district of Odisha that has given a Black Face to CASTE Ridden Odisha. More than 50 houses are burnt by upper castes here considered to be the violent event after independence.
The incident took place in wee hours. However the houses were torched yesterday 3.00 PM (22nd Jan, 2012) at Lathor in Bolangir.
The Random Caste behavior culminates into a planned crime. The basis of which starts with an usual altercation.
9th class Dalit boy named Ganesh Suna usually had habit of wearing an Inner Shirt. On the fateful day, he went on to a Shirt Shop purchase a new Shirt. While buying, he had Inner shirt as usual, thinking adversity, the Shopkeeper blamed the boy of theft without proper investigation. Shopkeeper Bharat Meher and his community along with his brother Daya Meher declared Ganesh as theif and beat him ruthlessly. They even threatened him for life.
So disappointed with the humiliation, on return to home the boy met Mr. Gouranga Suna, an elderly person. He narrated the incident to him. The elder came into action and went back to the accused, Meher. Mr Gouranga asked for explanation for such merciless beating. The elder also preempted that had it be need he would have been given the money as the damage, but there was no need to beat him and accused him on caste lines. However the Shopkeepers were so adamant that they didn’t listen but stated assaulting the Elder. They beat Mr Gouranga Suna with their footwear along with Caste Abuses.
Such was the treatment that Old man was not able to walk down the street back home. In great pain, Mr Guna reached home and reported the case to his family members, and then 10 youth from Dalit community went to the shop and asked for explanation. In an adverse reaction, Entire upper caste households took this as a Caste War. They suddenly got united against the Dalits in the region. They crawled forward to Dalit ghetto with Sharp Weapons, sticks and petrol. Foreseeing the caste violent situation the dalits fled the houses, frustrated Upper caste mob of 100s started burning Dalit houses built with such a labor and life sweat.
The the state of Odisha spread the news of Dalit houses burning in Bolangir. Dalits in Orissa and India got furious over the caste Atrocity. Help is being invited from far. People in different parts of India have come forward to support the families whose houses are torched. Such a devastation and State is looking incapable and insensitive. Such a inhuman Government at State and Centre what to do is the question now?
According to Current reports, Atrocitynews learns that its one of its Odisha correspondent’s ( who is converted Buddhist) is one among those whose houses are burnt. We will soon come up with the pictures. There are more than 50 houses still burning. None of the Dalit families are seen nearby due to Caste-Terror. This Ramrajya Going on, Patnaiks of the state are the boss. The masses even if larger in number are fearing for life.
Meanwhile the police has refused to register the case and finding steps to avoid any action. State violence is in worst form in Odisha. From the current reports, Superintendent of Police reached the spot with his police battalion. The news reporter for Kanak T.V is also beaten by the Upper Caste Mob. Dharitri News reporter is threatened by the upper castes.
Buddhist Brothers and sister in Odisha are inviting help from outside World. Audience please come forward..write and help !
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“Right to Education Act 2010- is a loaded gun without a trigger. The gun was loaded for sure. And yes, with the best of ammunition. But nobody seems willing to pull the trigger now, just like Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989 that has all elements to control caste violance but cant do so due to ‘Political/Administration will’ !” Says Sandeep Dongre who works with an NGO in an Educational sector. em>
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Education is fundamental to National development and Right to Education Act is a step exactly in that direction. Even within education, Primary education is of utmost importance as it forms the base for future. By educating the disadvantaged, this country will take a bold step towards Inclusive development and this will certainly propel India to far greater heights. Our problem is much less a large population and the true issue is a large illiterate population. This Act has the potential of correcting the base, giving a solid foundation by way of turning this large population into a valuable asset.
The Key points of this act are:
1. Free and compulsory education to all children of India in the 6 to 14 age group
2. Private educational institutions are now legally bound to reserve 25 per cent of their seats for children from economically disadvantaged communities of the society.
3. No travelling woes, education will be made available to children in their neighbourhood
4. This act can address the virtually impossible to resolve issue of ‘school drop-outs’- no child will be Failed or expelled till elementary education (class 8th) is completed.
5. The entire finance for the project will be shared between the State and Central government.
6. Private schools will be penalized for violating the RTE The responsibility for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of RTE has been handed over to National Commission for Protection of Rights of children (NCPCR) and NCPCR will do the monitoring with the help of its State Commission.
All International organizations like UNESCO & UNICEF have applauded this ground-breaking Act, RTE, which legalizes the right to free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14 in India. A majority % of the population that will be benefitted by this ACT would be the SC/ST and other backward classes and hence this act has the potential of taking us towards a equitable and Inclusive india. Enough effort has been made to Load the gun and hats off to the government for doing that! There are various issues which are creating a roadblock in smooth implementation of RTE.
I will discuss only few broader ones:
Education being a state subject, it is the duty of state government to make rules for implementation of any legislation relating to education. Two years of the RTE Act coming into force, only 10 out of the 27 states have taken a step towards making rules for implementing RTE. As many as seventeen states have not even taken a step in the direction of making use of a revolutionary legislation that has the power of turning around the situation of primary education in India. One area which clearly needs to be addressed is the inconsistencies between States in their implementation of the RTE. There is also no agreement on the Centre and the State on allocation of funds on elementary education. If Education is to be provided to all children between the ages 6 and 14, a huge number of teachers have to be recruited and there is a big gap on this count. One estimate says that atleast 14 lack teachers would be needed to fill the gap. Even these numbers can be achieved but it will happen only when a start is made. There is no plan in place to appoint them or atleast there is no urgency. We are not even talking on how these teachers will be trained once appointed. Am I being a little too optimistic here? Another issue is the possibility that school might increase fees for currently studying students as they will have to discount the 25% intake that they will have to compulsory take.
The schools have even involved the Parents of students currently studying and in quite a few cases these parents have become the Face of opposition to this ACT. These parents are lobbying on behalf of schools and even going to courts to get this stalled. Needless to say, they are playing into the vicious agenda of the schools. The government has to guarantee them that no abnormal fee increase will be allowed when this Act fully comes into place.. Another big issue is more of a social one and only a change of heart and a deep sense of inclusiveness can address it. We get to hear maximum number Of cases on ‘Admission denial’ and unfriendly admission procedures for these set of people. For the urban public schools, the idea that children of rich and poor will study together is unbearable. Isn’t this nothing but a form of discrimination?? Earlier they wanted to keep the SC/STs away and now they want to keep the Poor away(SC/ST/Other backward class students still constitute more than 85% of this). In their attempt to alienate, few schools have proposed afternoon shifts for the poor. Few schools are going overboard and claiming that with the interests of the poor in mind, they are denying admissions so that the difference in background might not create mental imbalance. On one pretext or the other, the schools are denying admissions to poor children. The rise of high-end private schools, especially in urban areas is nothing less than a discriminatory approach to education. This is a very exclusivist approach and the courts of this country should treat it at par with discrimination against backward classes. This agenda of the schools has to be addressed head-on as it will soon spiral into a vicious circle promoting discrimination to god knows what extent. More than the schools, the rich parents wanting a separate space for their children at schools is such a dangerous thought to the idea of an equitable and inclusive India.
An dedicated Education Minister for this country can go a long way in ensuring good policies do get implemented. Law aside, there has to be public mobilization for such issues. Now my sincere appeal to all. Law will definitely take its own course and provide a level-playing field for these people. But a lot can be done by effective public mobilization on such issues. For all youngsters who are willing to take out huge bike processions at the drop of a hat or light expensive candles on slightest provocation, here is a chance to prove their worth and be counted. Even half the effort put in this will give the best of results and lots of satisfaction. For all the numerous Dalit organizations which are extremely active physically as well as on the internet, this is one agenda which if pursued aggressively and with utmost dedication, can really propel the deprived students of the community towards a much better future. Directionally, it will be a step in right direction with enrolments increasing manifolds and drop-out decreasing by a significant proportion. It is a powerful tool and we need to put dedicated effort to make effective use of it.
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For any critical comments; the auther can be reached at dsandeep4@rediffmail.com.He is based in New Delhi.</
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A 40-year-old Dalit widow was beaten for two hours and paraded semi-naked at Mulgaon village in Patan taluka of Satara district on Monday noon by members of an upper caste family who suspected that her son had eloped with their daughter.
Though the police initially refused to register her complaint, five persons of the Desai family, including three women, were arrested on charges of rioting and under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act, on Wednesday night, said FA Naikwadi, deputy superintendent, Patan.
The woman was admitted to a private hospital in Karad in a serious condition, and her condition is improving since. Karad, barely 35km from Patan, is chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s hometown.
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The incident took place after the victim's son eloped with an upper caste girl on December 18. The girl's parents reportedly lodged a missing complaint and also started harassing the Dalit woman to get her to talk about her son and their daughter's whereabouts. The victim had claimed no knowledge of the couple's elopement.
According to locals, the family of the girl cornered the Dalit woman near a public well on Monday and started asking her questions. After a heated exchange of words, they beat her up and even paraded her naked in the village.
The woman sustained severe injuries and was admitted to a hospital in Karad later that day. "This atrocious act of parading a Dalit woman naked after beating her up in the CM's home district speaks about the state of Dalits in the progressive state of Maharashtra," said Dalit Mahasangh founder-president Machindra Sakate.
"The authorities are also turning a blind eye to the incident as the girl hails from a politically influential family which has strong connections with the board of directors of the Shambhuraje sugar factory. The chairman of this sugar factory is believed to be close to the Chief Minister. The girl's uncle Hambir Desai is also a board member of the sugar factory."
Desai was one of the five arrested under the Atrocities Act yesterday evening. The police dismissed all allegations and said that there was no delay in taking action. "The lady, who was admitted to a Karad hospital, lodged a complaint there. The complaint was transferred to Patan on Tuesday. We have arrested Kisan Dattatray Desai, Hambirrao Bapurao Desai, Shantabai Kisan Desai, Vimal Vishwas Desai and Sunita Hambirrao Desai under the Atrocities Act," said Police Inspector Fattelal Naikawade of the Patan police station.
Pic 01 The Mother is attacked by a mob of 50..Entire Upper caste made her dead human. Thanks Govt !
Naikawade added that the initial inquiry pointed to the Dalit woman being beaten up but not paraded naked; sources said two members of the woman’s community had confided this to police. Reacting to the Dalit activists’ allegations that the police had registered a complaint against only five persons even though a mob had attacked the victim, Naikawade said, “We have taken action on the basis of the complaint filed by the victim, who named only five persons.”
p>Refer: HT
p>Refer: Mid-Day
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Brutal attack on Dalits settlement in Kizlsathamangalam village of Pondicherry, India made by the dominant caste people on 01/01/2012 by the dominant of the Melsathamangalam village. Nearly 100 Dalits’ houses were attacked by 300 upper caste members using swords and other sharp and deadly weapons. Many Dalit houses were broken and properties like house, TATA van, televisions, grinding machines, vessels and Motor cycles were damaged or set on fire. This problem started to
clash between the two sections of people to getting water. The water is demanded after the Thane Cyclone hit the Pondicherry.
They assaulted women by sexually abusing them trying to pull off their sarees. Most of the people sustained serious injuries all over their bodies including their heads, necks, backs, cheeks etc due to the cuts caused by the sharp weapons. The dominant Caste people also pushed the Dalits to the ground and stamped them with their legs, abusing them using degrading caste names.
This brutal attack was carried out for nearly two hours, from 6.30-8.30 a.m. The Dominant caste mob was so violent that the 8-month pregnant lady namely mala w/o Pazhani, was hit against the wall in a
most inhuman manner. Also a 50 year old Vithi s/o Anachapuli. This innocent old man did not know for what reason he was attacked so brutally. Another old woman named Lalida (45 years) w/o Subramanian and Rajseshwari ( 45 years) w/o Madurai was hit on her head and started bleeding badly when she went to rescue her son. 16 old years old boy Ajith Kumar s/o Vengatesan brutally hit and thorn in the road.
Most of the Dalits tried to escape to save their lives. But they were further stopped on their way out and attacked with weapons once again. In this occurrence, 14 Dalits were severely attacked with sharp and deadly weapons, and they sustained terrible injuries. Today their lives and security are threatened. In the light of the above occurrence, we would like your solidarity in condemning this brutal attack, which is the result of the horrendous caste system that prevails in India. The fact-finding team to visited and analyzed the situation. The team and victims talked with Collector and Sub-collector of Pondichery to insist to file the case under SC/ST POA Act. We request you to demand immediate action by the respective authorities on this violence against the Dalits in Pondicherry, India.
We request you to demand immediate action by the respective authorities in this violence against the Dalits in Pondicherry,India.
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He comes from rural India. He belongs to Mr. Gopinath Munde, President, Maharastra BJP, on a caste strand. He strikes Hindu code of life, everyday. What if he talks about his version of caste pain? Please listen Mr Tandale, from Wada in Thane district. He finds it rather difficult to get away with the pain even if he comes from little better Wanjari Caste which now considered as Notified Tribe in Maharashtra.
Please click the audio file down for his personal talks and his adherence to Dr Ambedkar’s Vision for Social Equality.
Mr. Tandale Speaks – A self cultured person from the Wanjari COmmunity CLICK HERE...
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Several upper-caste children have allegedly refused midday meals prepared by Dalit cooks in an Andhra school, sparking fears that one of UPA’s key welfare schemes could be turning into a platform to perpetuate caste prejudices.
The authorities of the Zilla Parishad School at Sundaragiri in Karimnagar ‘ slain Maoist leader Kishan’s home district ‘ have alleged that the children turning down the food are being goaded by their elders, including some village heads.
“Initially, the children complained that the quality of the food was poor. Now, they have raised the bogie of Dalit women cooks,” the headmaster said on the condition of anonymity.
Food isn’t the only problem. Dalits have been banned from social ceremonies in Sundaragiri for years.
In school, the bias has shown up elsewhere, too. “Upper-caste children are reluctant to sit with Dalit students on the same desks and stand in line for prayers with them,” said another teacher.
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A man was today sentenced to six- month imprisonment by a local court for abusing a youth in name of caste. Additional Sessions Judge A A Sayeed also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on the convict, Suresh R Sonigra (40), a local estate agent. He was found guilty of passing casteist remark against the 24-year-old youth, who worked as a delivery boy with a gas agency in Bhayander, a township in Thane district. Sonigra was convicted under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and Protection of Civil Rights Act. PTI COR
Source: IBN 7
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Pic01 : Neeraj Kumar was found dead in a fieldA low-caste Dalit boy has been killed in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for sharing a name with a man of a higher caste, police say. They said Neeraj Kumar’s father Ram Sumer had been asked to change the names of two sons as they were the same as those of Jawahar Chaudhary’s sons. The body of Neeraj, 14, was found on 23 November in a field. Two friends of the Chaudhary family have been arrested. Mr Chaudhary denies the involvement of his family in the murder.
He says the family is being framed by police. Dalits, formerly known as “untouchables”, are at the bottom of the Hindu caste system in India. Although caste discrimination is illegal, biases remain in many areas. The latest incident took place in Radhaupur village in Basti district. Both Ram Sumer and Jawahar Chaudhary have sons named Neeraj and Dheeraj and that has long been an issue between the two families, Sub-inspector Praveen Kumar said. Mr Chaudhary, who belongs to a higher caste, had given several warnings to Mr Sumer to change the names of his boys. On 22 November, Neeraj left home after dinner to watch television at a friend’s house. His body was found the next day.
Police said he was strangled.
Mr Chaudhary’s sons – Neeraj and Dheeraj – are missing, but police have arrested two friends of the family who they say had a role in the murder.
Source: BBC
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IITs screwing up Nation !
fOLLOWING IS A REPORT DIRECTLY FROM IIT-KANPUR. READERS PLEASE HAVE A GO AND YOU WILL COME TO KNOW IITS HAVE FAILED US AS A NATION…
IIT Kanpur-Selection Committee conducted an interview for the post of Deputy Registrars (1SC, 1UR) on 21 November 2011 (Monday). Many SC candidates, who came from various highly reputed institutions with suitable educations and experiences, appeared in the interview for post of Deputy Registrar reserved for SC on 21/11/2011. SC (Scheduled Caste) seat was not filled but UR (Unreserved Category) filled. The reason for not filling the SC seat is that the selection committee will keep vacant for filling by other community person on contractual basis. This is happening in other IITs too.
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Rohidas Tupe was stoned to death by the Castiest hooligans last week. He belonged to ex-untouchable, Mang community from Pal Taluka, Fulambari Dist rict of Aurangabad
To Know MORE , click here for the Background History !!
Recent result of Session’s court over the heinous atrocity is :
Seven people, including three women, were on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment for lynching a Dalit youth at Phulamri taluka of Aurangabad district in February 2009. Sixty-three suspects were acquitted for lack of evidence.
The brutal murder of Rohidas Pandit Tupe (21), who was accused of teasing and stalking an 18-year-old upper caste girl, had sent shockwaves across the state, leading to protests at many places. Additional district and sessions judge R R Kadam also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on the convicts, failing to pay which would mean additional six months of simple imprisonment. “The four male convicts have also been sentenced to two months of rigorous imprisonment and told to pay a fine of Rs 200 each for obstructing government servants from doing duty, failing to pay which would mean a month’s simple imprisonment . Both the sentences will run concurrently,” additional public prosecutor Rajendra Mugdia.
The convicts – Dnyaneshwar Tejrao Jadhav, Santosh Ambadas Jadhav, Chhotu Suryabhan Jadhav, Sachin Chandrakant Jadhav (all in the 20-25 age group) – were in prison ever since their arrest in February 2009. The women convicts – Vijubai Jadhav (36), Rukmanbai Jadhav (75) and Kusumbai Jadhav (65) -were taken into custody soon after the judgment as they had been granted bail.The Phulamri police had arrested 75 people from Pal village , including three minors . Two of the suspects died while investigations were in progress. Later, the investigation into the case was handed over to criminal investigation department (CID) following a high court order. The CID filed a charge sheet against 70 people. “On the afternoon of February 23, 2009, the village police patil Chhagan Ramlal Reswal had spotted the four male convicts beating Rohidas, who worked at a private company in Aurangabad , while accusing him of harassing a girl for two years. They asked Reswal not to intervene and dragged the youth to Shivaji chowk in the village. They also accuse him of being armed with a knife and threatening and chasing the girl, who had come out to participate in the Mahashivratri programme that afternoon . Reswal informed the police beat marshal about the incident. Four to five policemen rushed to the spot, where over 100 people had gathered. The accused threatened them and told them to stay away from the place.” Mugdia said.
Additional police force, led by senior officers, came to the place but it was too late. The youth was stripped, tied to an electricity pole and was brutally beaten up. He had sustained serious wounds. While the male members were beating up the youth, the three women too joined them, Mugdia said. “Vijubai sprinkled salt and chilli powder on Rohidas’ wounds, Rukmanbai poured kerosene on him. When Rohidas cried for water , Kusumbai took water from a drain in her chappal and pushed it into his mouth. The victim’s younger brother, Raju, and cousin Samadhan, the main witnesses , narrated the whole incident to the police,” Mugdia said. Rohidas was first taken to a primary health centre in Phulamri in an unconscious state and subsequently referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Aurangabad , where the doctors declared him dead on arrival, said Mugdia.
The prosecution examined 43 witnesses, out of which 19, including the main complainant and the village police patil Reswal and his wife, turned hostile. Even three close relatives of the victim turned hostile, said Mugdia.
Source: TOI
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“Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati is all set to complete her first five-year tenure as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state by population. This is significant in itself. She became UP chief minister in May 2007 for the fourth time, with a majority in the Assembly that allowed her to sail through the entire term without a hiccup”, writes A. K Battacharya for Business Standard.
The recent visit of Rahul Gandhi in her UP and falsifying the State development Data in front of village gathering in order to prove that UP is lagging behind.. indicates that neither Congress nor BJP wants any Dalit to lead a corrupt-free efficient public governance! What they want then? may be Caste Hegemony.. Readers speak up ! Please go thru the further write-up from Business Standard.
This was not so in her earlier stints as chief minister. In 1995, when she became chief minister at 39, earning the honour of being UP’s youngest head of government, she spent only four months and 15 days in office. In her second tenure, she did better by staying on as chief minister for six months. That was in 1997. And in her third tenure, which began on May 3, 2002, she could remain in office a little longer for close to 16 months. So, in her fourth attempt, she is doing even better by completing her full five-year term. This, then, is also an appropriate occasion to evaluate her performance as chief minister in the last five years. A key question here would be how Ms Mayawati has improved the economic conditions of the people of her state and what she has done with the finances of her government. The numbers tell an interesting story. The nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of Uttar Pradesh grew at an annual rate of eight to 12 per cent between 2002-03 and 2006-07. Ms Mayawati began her five-year tenure as chief minister from May 2007. Almost coinciding with that, growth in state GDP in nominal terms took off from 2007-08. The average annual state GDP growth rate between 2007-08 and 2010-11 shot up to 17 per cent. Even in the current financial year, UP’s state GDP is likely to grow by 11 per cent. In other words, UP’s nominal GDP growth in these four years (2007-11) was almost the same as what the entire country clocked in that period. This is not a performance that anyone can scoff at. UP’s performance on the per capita income front was less creditable largely because its population continued to grow at a rate higher than the rest of the country. Even then, UP’s per capita income went up by 136 per cent from about Rs 11,000 in 2007 to Rs 26,000 now. In the same period, India’s per capita income saw a higher increase of 161 per cent from Rs 21,000 to Rs 54,900. As far as the state government’s finances are concerned, they too have seen a steady improvement in Ms Mayawati’s five years. UP continues to be one of the few states with a revenue surplus, an advantage she has not frittered away by offering tax concessions or waivers to people. Instead, she has used this surplus to reduce the state’s fiscal deficit from four per cent of state GDP in 2007-08 to a budgeted figure of 2.97 per cent for the current financial year. On the debt front too, Ms Mayawati ensured that the state’s indebtedness came down from 43 per cent of state GDP in 2007-08 to 32 per cent in 2011-12. Ms Mayawati’s five years will also be remembered for the rapid strides the state’s power sector took by adding about 4,000 MW of generation capacity. If the Mayawati government’s official claims are to be believed, the fresh capacity added in the last four-and-a-half years is almost three-fourths of the total thermal power generation capacity Uttar Pradesh had added till 2007. What’s more, Ms Mayawati has planned to create 7,000 MW more generation capacity by the end of 2012 and her target is to make UP a power-surplus state by 2017. This may look like one of those tall pre-election promises, but remember that the state is already executing power projects with a total capacity of 10,000 MW. If you thought Ms Mayawati has not done anything for the aam aadmi, then think again. In the last four-and-a-half years, she has built around 200,000 low-cost, small houses for allotment to members of poor families. An estimated Rs 3,500 crore has been spent on this. On average, this translates into about 2,800 low-cost houses in each of UP’s 70 districts. In addition, all girls from poor families are now entitled to a cycle if they go to school. This scheme, at a nominal cost, has worked wonders for literacy levels in UP’s villages. You may still complain about the state’s poor ranking in the human development index, but with strong economic growth, stable state finances and investments in infrastructure, housing and education, Uttar Pradesh can look forward to a better tomorrow. And if Ms Mayawati has achieved all this in the last four-and-a-half years of her tenure, why is it that she has not got the credit that should be due to her? Or, for that matter, why is it that her political opponents feel confident of defeating her in the next elections, citing her performance as poor? Or is it because Ms Mayawati as a political phenomenon is not fully understood — either by her rivals or by our political analysts?
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Source: Business Standard
Auther: B.K. Bhattachraya
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Justice C S Karnan of the Madras high court, who alleged humiliation by fellow judges on November 2 (first reported in TOI), on Thursday said other dalit judges, too, are targeted and their reputation tarnished whenever they assert their self-respect. He added that “more than four or five high court judges” have humiliated him on the basis of his caste and that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes may look into his complaint.
Addressing a crowded press conference in his chambers two days after TOI reported the details of his plea, the judge said he has faced humiliation and embarrassment since April 2009 and it still continues.
“Some judges are very narrow-minded; they seek to dominate dalit judges,” Karnan said.
He said he did not rake up the issue all these months as he wanted to safeguard the dignity of the institution. “I was forced to approach the national forum for SCs only after the atrocities crossed tolerable limits,” he said, adding that several other dalit judges in the subordinate judiciary too face similar ordeal. “It’s a black mark on Indian judiciary,” he said.
Justice Karnan claimed that after the National Commission for Scheduled Castes forwarded a copy of his complaint against fellow judges to the Chief Justice of India, he has permitted the panel chairman to hold an inquiry into his allegations.
Asked why he rushed to the forum instead of taking it up with the chief justice of the Madras high court, Karnan said: “The National Commission for SCs is the watchdog for all dalits, including dalit judges, in the country. It is the competent and appropriate body to safeguard the interests of dalits.” Justice Karnan reiterated that a judge deliberately rubbed his shoes against him and then trampled a card carrying his (Justice Karnan) name at a function, and said he would reveal the identity of the judge at the time of inquiry. “The judge, sitting cross-legged next to me, touched me with his shoes deliberately and then said sorry. Two other judges were watching it smiling,” he said. Justice Karnan claimed that he was discriminated against on basis of caste at several get-togethers such as full court meeting, high tea and dinner. “It’s a chain of occurrences, and not once or twice,” he said.
On rumours about his transfer, Justice Karnan asked what was the need to do so. “I have given the highest disposal, and all my decisions have been upheld by the higher judicial forum”.
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Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement is the most highly improbable event that could have occurred to USA in recent times. Who could have imagined five years ago that USA could face nation-wide protests of such a scale? The woes of protesters are many and they have found a medium to vent their frustration through Occupy Wall-Street movement. All the woes boil down to inequality between haves and have-nots. The disparity is a common feature between USA and India. Sadly, USA has turned into a prototype for Indian economy, by design or default. As Paul Krugman says aptly in his recent article in NY Times, concentration of income and wealth makes a democracy in name only. The case in India is the same. Indian media has long recognized this glaring fact. Contrary to this, the reality of disparity was obfuscated in USA. In India, politics is an insane concoction of money and schizophrenic notion of caste where higher castes ensure their hegemony through India Inc. and NGOs under the umbrella of ‘Sangh-parivar’. Crony capitalism and nepotism with a dash of caste is the recipe for success in India Inc. This is a very important, yet under-rated, reason why Indians don’t do well on Global front. They are busy pulling each other down rather than working together and maintaining healthy competition. Castes, who have owned businesses for generations, ensure that the perceived others are kept out of any possible entrepreneurial efforts in small businesses what-so-ever. The disadvantaged castes don’t make it to India Inc. Any top positions are essentially out of question, even if one might have aptitude to run the corporate machinery. Extreme concentration of wealth is incompatible with real democracy. Govt of India must ensure that the wealth gets well-distributed while ensuring business-friendly environment. Europian capitalist economies tax the rich 60-70% of taxes and still they are as business-friendly as ever. Why can’t India manage that? A check on corruption would definitely help corporations reduce the costs they face. Government of India must see her citizens as assets rather than potential customers. Higher education at top universities must be free or subsidized for all. This will ensure productive citizens & progressive nation. Healthcare, education, essential commodities should be affordable to the poorest of the poor. Freedom of expression should be brought to reality by Indian media who otherwise marginalises the cries of the majority of citizens who are disadvantaged. There is a lot that India could do for its people while being business-friendly at the same time. She simply needs to have the heart in right place and find the right balance. Some have been comparing OWS to Jan-Lokpal bill movement. There is nothing more ludicrous than such a comparison. Anna Inc.’s Jan-Lokapal bill movement resembles more to Tea Party movement under the leadership of Sarah Palin. Anna Hazare’s agitation has been supported by right-wing forces just the way Tea-party movement has been supported by the right-wing in USA. Anna Inc. got support of so-called “middle-class” (pseudonym for elites) minority that has hegemony everywhere in India, for serving their interests and compromising democracy. Indian media brought Anna Inc. to centre-stage and put him in spot-light just the way Tea-party movement got attention for its pseudo-causes. Anna’s agitation and Tea party movement are well-orchestrated events. There is no revolutionary outburst out of disaffection in these movements the way OWS has. Last time India saw such an outburst, in the form of agitations, was a month after Khairlanji massacre. The state didn’t know what struck them and was utterly confused. Now, in front of OWS, Tea-party looks like nothing but a whimper. Same would be the case, if majority of Indian citizens would rise against the concentration of resources in the hands of the few. Anna Inc. chose wrong time to put unrealistic & cold-hearted demands for compromising democracy, on the pretext corruption, and for fulfilling itsself-serving interests when elites are already compromising it with concentration of wealth and income in the elites’ hands. India must ensure that such a movement never happens to her. But the route to this is not to dumbing down of helpless cries of the common man, obfuscating facts or briefing media for concocting stories. She should rather keep lobbying forces in check. She should strive to make every citizen an asset for the nation and take utmost care of her assets. Marginalisation of backward classes and religious minorities should be dealt with appropriate representation for them in media, business and politics, including higher up in the hierarchy of the order. India must look at herself in mirror and introspect what kind of democracy its founding fathers envisioned and what she has turned into before demonising countries like China for autocratic rule. Otherwise a revolt is always waiting to happen around the corner.
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The seesion court has no other work than to play a spoil sport and comment on the various Atrocities commited on Dalits across the Country.
The Court, while pronouncing quantum of sentence for the convicts in heinous Mirchpur Atrocity Case, noted that the convicts have been in custody for more than a year. The court also suggested, “The SC/ST POA Act came into existence almost two decades ago and its efficacy needs to be evaluated in the changing socio-economic scenario.”
The court observed, “All atrocities are crimes against humanity. The SC/ST POA Act, 1989 deals with atrocities but restricts its operation to particular groups based upon caste. Just like an offender or a violator of law has no caste, reed, race, sex or religion, neither does the victim. Caste and community-based violence can be prevented by inclusive and interactive political process to subdue the fanaticism of decisive communal thinking.”
The judge added, “What has made me ponder if it was not time that the ‘Atrocities Act’ be made caste-neutral with a provision for uniform punishment for all violators irrespective of caste distinctions. Why this distinction when the crime committed is the same and the victims suffer as much?”
Source: Daily Poineer
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Vital parameters, too, have changed for the better in UP. The recent Human Development Index report reveals that its Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) grew by 76% in the last five years, almost at par with Gujarat. The planning ministry revealed that UP was among five states which had higher growth rates than their 11th Plan (2007-12 ) targets. Its GDP grew to 7.28% as against a target of 6.10%. It was also awarded “best performing state in agriculture” by the UPA this year.
Source: Economic Times
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Hanumangarh: A 25-year-old dalit youth was tied to a tree and then beaten to death with iron rods and sticks in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district, police said on Monday, describing the alleged lynching as a dishonour killing. The police, who have arrested three brothers of a woman who had an affair with the youth, said the accused considered the alleged relations as besmirching their honour and killed the youth. The incident is said to have taken place on Sunday at Dholipal village of the district, some 400 km from state capital Jaipur.”The deceased, Prahlad alias Bablu, had eloped with a woman three months ago. The woman was married and had disputes with her husband. Recently the couple returned,” a senior police officer said. He added that the woman’s three brothers, Sandeep, Pintu and Devendra, tied him to a tree and started beating him with sticks and iron rods in full public view. “Considering him dead after he fell unconscious, the three escaped from the village,” said the officer. The police arrived at the spot on information from some villagers and rushed Bablu to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries on the way. “In his brief dying statement, he identified the three men,” said the officer.
Source: ZeeNews
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Tags: Rajastan Atrocity
The Dharmapuri court in Tamil Nadu on September 29 2011, found all 269 people accused of raping more than 100 adivasi women in the Vachathi area of the district, guilty. The brutal gang rape that sent shock waves across Tamil Nadu and India named 108 policemen, 155 forest officials and a few officials from other government departments who entered Vachathi in for a purported search for smuggled sandalwood. During the raid 180 tribal villagers were arrested including 97 women. Many villagers were reportedly assaulted and their property damaged and it was subsequently alleged that 18 women were raped.
Despite appeals to the then Chief Minister by local politicians, no immediate action was taken by the authorities to investigate the incident. Subsequently, a local member of the state Legislative Assembly filed a public interest petition in the High Court. As a result of the petition, an inquiry was made by a revenue department official who concluded that the villagers themselves could have damaged their houses in order to put the blame on the police. The investigating official reportedly did not interview any residents during his visit to the village. In February 1995, the Madras High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in order to identify those responsible for violations and to bring them to justice. A report of the CBI was subsequently submitted to the High Court.
The CBI reportedly found evidence that 18 women had been raped. As a result the court ordered interim compensation of Rs10,000 each to the women in May 1996. In addition, the CBI recommended the prosecution of 269 police and forest department officials for various offences including the molesting of tribal women, illegal detention and assault. Among the 269 officials chargesheeted by the CBI, four Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers and ten police officials were charged with concealment of evidence, atrocities on Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe people and wrongful confinement. The majority of those arrested were subsequently released on bail pending trial. Many of the accused have retired and others have enjoyed their service benefits. There are two more appeals in the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Source: FirstPost
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Khairlanji Anniversary 2011
Today is the 5th Anniversary of Khairlanji Atrocity (Day: 29th Sept 2007). This atrocity questioned interest of masses to Human values.
Though it is one among the 368 Notorious Atrocities committed on Buddhist Converts, Khairlanji Atroricty had all caste dimensions of un-civil Indian Society in pronounced way.
Witnessing people in general, social activists, lawyers, doctors, politicians and Buddhist Monks congregating from all corners of the world for paying floral tributes to Bhotmange family. The family Leader Surekha, was humiliated and her dignity was taken for ride by Hindu Gang before murdering her. Later her blind son, brillient daughter and another son were murdered.
Khairlanji massacre has become a WATERSHED that sensitized media, civil society and politic by producing a realistic perspective on caste violence very deeply. Father Bhaiyalal was present in Khairlanji. There is an equivocal demand for having the ‘Khairlanji Memorial Pillar’ in front of the hut. None of the violent incidents reported till this time all over country. Atrocitynews correspondent from Khairlanji reports gathering everywhere, many more joining in groups in diffrent places to pay respect to the Bhotmange Family. We will come with the photographs for our readers soon.
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Tags: Khairlanji
Shooting at Paramkudi is one more bead in chain of incidents that have occurred Dalits in India. It is very typical of police-forces, government and media the way they have responded to the incident.
Oppression of Dalits is very much observable throughout India. They might assert themselves through legitimate means of agitation for equality, opportunity & their rights. But tragedy is that even such basic human rights are denied.
Shooting at agitating Dalits is quite typical of throughout India. It feels as if it’s a textbook rule amongst police forces to shoot at Dalits if the police know that it is Dalits who have gathered to agitate. Ramabai Nagar firing in 1997 is one such fine example.
“Deny them basic human rights.
Deny them dignity.
Deny them opportunity.
If they make their presence felt, oppress them.
Use them and worst of all ignore their existence.”
This is what a typical Indian leader believes in.
India got its freedom from British Raj more than 60 years ago but then again whose democracy is it anyway if the government shoots at people the way Kim Jong Il or any brutal regime would do.
Is democracy a selective phenomenon where one is qualifies for it while othersdon’t? Is it just for the namesake?
Anna Hazare’s movement was one where blaming the democracy had become trendy. Anna’s agitators were ignoring the fact that they were ones who were enjoying the best of liberty’s fruits historically. Places like Paramkudi are where democracy is denied & such are the places where we know how valuable democracy really is. Over one side (in places like Paramkudi), basic democratic rights are denied; while over the other side (like in case of Anna’s movement), agitation is romanticized and unrealistic demands hold the whole republic on ransom for several months.
Firing at oppressed people is a tool to intimidate them from getting organised and agitating in future. It is a kind of threat that is made by the government to the people. The threat says that, “if you are going to come out of your homes agitating for the injustice done or for demanding any rights or making their presence felt in any possible way, then you will not be spared. You will face the same consequences.”
Such kind of threatening does work very well. It makes oppressive forces existing in caste-ridden society bolder after such state-sponsored terrorism. They know that they can go on afflicting atrocities on hapless poors. Poors don’t find any solution out of their problems. They bear the atrocities for few more days and then again come out agitating out of helplessness somewhere in India. Again, state suppresses any such movement and the vicious cycle goes on. What the state should instead do is that it should offer a patient hearing to the concerns raised and do something about it.
One more trend that is typical in India which became evident from Paramkudi incident is that there was not even a single reliable news-report about the incident.
This is preposterous!
With so many national news-channels and innumerable local news-services, why couldn’t even a single one manage to do justice to this news happening at Paramkudi? No wonder India’s press freedom is nothing but a myth. Indian press is nothing but an instrument for brain-washing. India has ranked 122nd in 2010 behind Qatar and before Zimbabwe according to Press Freedom Index. Paramkudi incidence exemplifies why this is so?
It is high time that our dear politician should avoid such shortcuts of oppression and should instead implement policies which would bring social justice.
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Author is a Medical Student and a Web Activist from Mumbai, India. You may contact him here.
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Tags: Paramakudi
Eighty-two of the 97 people accused in the Mirchpur killing of a 70-year-old dalit and his physically challenged daughter were acquitted by a Delhi court for lack of evidence. The then SHO of the area, Vinod Kajal, was also acquitted by the court.
All the arrested are from the Jat community, who allegedly killed Tara Chand and his 17-year-old handicapped daughter after they burnt down Chand’s hut. The provocation was a quarrel between dalit leaders and Jat leaders over a dog barking nearby in April 2010, according to the prosecution. All the accused were booked for murder, arson, rioting and also under the SC/ST act. The court will now give quantum of punishment on September 29.
Contradictions in testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, discrepancies in the photographic and videographic evidence, and witnesses turning hostile led to the acquittals in the caste-atrocity case by additional sessions judge Kamini Lau, who, however convicted 15 people for various criminal acts in the incident that occurred at Mirchpur village in Haryana last year. None has been convicted for murder. Three were held guilty for culpable homicide not amounting to murder for torching houses of victims.
The court, in its judgment, pulled up the Haryana police for their role in the case saying the manner in which the whole thing was handled was improper . It said that due to the discrepancies in circumstantial, medical and forensic evidence even the dying testimony of Tara Chand before a magistrate had to be rejected. It said while allegations of use of deadly weapons, dacoity, criminal conspiracy couldn’t be proved by the prosecution, it found evidence of unlawful assembly, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
In December, the Supreme Court directed that the case be transferred to the special court in Delhi to ensure a free and fair trial. It also said the Delhi court will be free to re-examine witnesses already examined by the court in Hisar. It passed the order after examining the affidavits filed by two court-appointed advocates, who had submitted that the witnesses were under constant threat due to the hostile atmosphere created by the accused.
Source: TOI
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Tags: Mirchpur
Nation has forgotten that there is 25% almost Quarter of India suffering class called Dalits living in despicable condition with respect to Law, if they rise to their cause what will happen to this Nation no-one knows !!
Please find the folloiwng Fact Finding Reprot on Paramakudi where the tally of dead Dalit activists has gone to 7. Dalits shouldnt be taking out processions…Anna’s can!!
FACT FINDING TEAM: Independent Investigation Team Members:
(Translated from Original Tamil News Report: Vizhi.net)
1. S. Sathya Chandiran- Lawyer, Madras High Court
2. P. Tamzhilinian- Lawyer, Gen Secretary, Ambedkar People’s Liberation Movement
3. S. Natarajan- President, Thatha Rattimalai Srinivasan Sabha
4. K. Ilanchezhian- State Secretary, Adi-Tamilar Freedom Movement
5. Thada T.Periyaswamy- Nandanar Peravai, Perambalur
6. Yaakan- General Secretary, Tamil Nadu alternative Journalism Writers Association, Chennai
7. R.L. Rosario- Dalit People’s Association, Thiruvannamalai
8. Sa.Rajinikanth-Lawyer, Madras High Court
9.E.Deivamani-Lawyer, Ambedkar Panther Movement
10. R.Alugumani- Lawyer, Madurai High Court11. P. Velumani- Organizing Secretary, Tamil Revolution Movement, Chennai
12. R.Annadurai- Ambedkar Panther Movement
13. K. Arumugam, Social Justice, Madurai
14. C.AnanthaRaj- Equal Rights, Madurai
15. K. Srinivasan- Central Team Member, Adi Tamilar Liberation front, Tamil Nadu
Discoveries from the Fact Finding Team:
A Strong Case for Legal action on all the Police Officers, Revenue Officers,Ministers and Jayalalitha, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
1. To Disturb and destroy Dalits assertion and the anticipated celebration of Immanuel Sekaran’s death anniversary, every year the caste hindus have the tradition of murdering someone from dalit community, and this year too the same happened on 09.09.2011 a local +1 student Palanikumar was murdered. If the murder of a young dalit was gruesome and barbaric, it was further shocking to discover that the mob of perpetrators who killed Palanikumar were screaming and yelling saying
” Hey, Pariah’s stop here, Are you going to Celebrate Immanuel Sekaran guru Pooja”, will see how you will go to the Guru Pooja this year, and then Mob hacked the dalit boy, this murder was aimed to disturb this year’s Guru Pooja for Immanuel Sekaran. The Killers outburst and Screams before committing their murder clearly laid a path for the immediate next week’s Police killing.
2. The Police officer Mr.Senthilvelan, I.P.S was in charge and lead Police officer of the firing in Paramakudi, but this IPS officer was not the local or district police staff, he was sent from Adayar, Madras. He is a Deputy Superintendent of Adayar Police force. He was once served as Police chief in the Ramanathapuram District. The State government’s decision to send this police officer to the Immanuel Sekaran’s anniversary is a deliberate and well planned setup by the Tamilnadu govt to create a violent atmosphere and kill the Dalits, again with the purpose in mind to cause disturbance to the dalit assertion against Thevars?. The posting of Senthilvelan is not only confirms the purpose as well as a wide spread talks in Tamil Nadu among Dalits and others that it was part of the Engineering to Kill Dalits.
3. On the Day of the Police firing, it was ascertained that the dalit people with their leaders and representatives will assemble at Immanuel Sekaran’s memorial at 3pm, and it was estimated that the crowed will be huge gathering of extraordinary number of people. And it is swelling bigger and bigger in numbers year after year, this means that there will be increased freedom and upward movement of Dalits, it brings Power and it will change Dalit people’s attitude when they become united and gather together, the State wants to STOP this huge gathering, the State is afraid of this new assertion and awareness of Dalits. So to stop and to disturb this movement the instrument used by the current ruling state govt is the Police, as there is a general consensus and reality that Tamil Nadu police is so barbaric and atrocious, if a large force of police is brought into this memorial site, Tamil Nadu police is known for not following any standard operating procedures or policies, it is like a Jungle, the police themselves behave like the worst Mob in the world. Piling hundreds of police in a small village, the very site of it will create some fear, but when they start firing randomly without any respect or remorse to lives, it is the ultimate method to create fear on the day of Immanuel Sekaran’s anniversary among the Dalit people (Fear Psychosis), so that they will abandon or stop such grand celebrations in the future, this is the ultimate aim of the Police firing. The Fact finding team came to this conclusion based on interviewing hundreds of local Dalits and people who participated Immanuel Sekaran’s memorial day.
More Report Click here Fact Finding Report on ‘ParamakudIi Dalit Firing’
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Tags: Paramakudi
The police action against Dalits in Paramakudi leaves indelible scars on the psyche of the oppressed people all over Tamil Nadu.
A large number of people on their way to Sekaran’s memorial and back were stranded in the town because of stone-throwing, setting of fire to vehicles and throwing of petrol bombs by a Upper Caste groups & miscreants. Things went from bad to worse as the police resorted to a lathi-charge and later opened several rounds of fire. According to local residents, gunshots were heard from 12-40 p.m. to 5-15 p.m. People who ran for their lives and those who were injured in the lathi-charge were taken into custody. Some of the policemen were also injured and several vehicles were damaged in the incident.
In view of Sekaran’s memorial day, according to official sources, around 4,000 police personnel, including officers, were deployed at different sensitive villages and hamlets in the district. But in Paramakudi, the police were not deployed in adequate strength at the time of the incident, informed sources said.
The victims of the police firing are R. Ganesan (65) of Pallavarayanendal, T. Panneerselvam (50) of Veerambal, P. Jayapal (20) of Manjur, S. Vellaichamy (65) of Paramakudi, Theerthakani (25) of Keezhakodumalur and Muthukumar (26) of Sadayaneri. Almost all of them were farm workers or labourers in the unorganised sector. Among the Dalits who were undergoing treatment for multiple injuries sustained in the police lathi-charge were I. Israel and M. Thanikodi of S. Kavanur, G. Senthil of Ammankoil, K. Vellaichamy of N. Pethanendal, S. Chandran of Pambur and K. Pandi of Ponnaiyapuram. Pandi, a 60-year-old construction worker, said a group of lathi-wielding policemen beat him up when he was bathing at a place close to the scene of protests. He has fractures in his left arm and left leg.
Vellaichamy, a 70-year-old retired headmaster of a primary school, said he had been visiting Paramakudi for the past 20 years to pay his respects at the memorial of Sekaran. He recalled that the police had never before used such brute force during Sekaran’s death anniversary. Even after taking them to the police station, the injured persons were humiliated, he alleged.
For the past two decades, Dalits have been observing Sekaran’s death anniversary as “guru puja” at his tomb in Paramakudi just as Thevars do on the anniversary of Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon on October 30. Dalits from several villages and towns in the southern districts visit Paramakudi every year.The number of participants has steadily increased in the past five years. Dalit organisations have been demanding that Sekaran’s anniversary be declared a government celebration as has been done in the case of Thevar Jayanthi, but the government has not paid heed.
As has been pointed out by some civil rights organisations, the incident raises many questions not only about the handling of the situation but also about the attitude of the state towards Dalits. The events have also brought to the fore various issues relating to the plight of Dalits, who form a sizable percentage of the population in southern Tamil Nadu and the composite Ramanathapuram district (comprising present-day Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Virudhunagar districts) in particular. The issues are many: growing awareness among Dalit youth, deteriorating living conditions owing to dwindling livelihoods, industrial backwardness of the region, conflict between them and the oppressor communities who come in the way of their empowerment including in grass-roots level governance, calculated attempts by vested interests to keep the area as a hotbed of communal tension, and the reported partisan attitude of the police at the time of caste conflicts.
Pic 01: Dalit Blood wasted by Caste Rulars so easily, 4 Killed
The police should have cleared the protesters by other means instead of taking the extreme step of opening fire for burning government vehicles. “No one can bring the victims back to life, but vehicles can be bought,” she said. According to Sampath, the police had always let loose violence on Dalits whenever they raised their voice to assert their legitimate rights. He recalled the attacks on Dalits at Nalumoolaikinaru and Kodiyankulam in Tuticorin district, the drowning of 17 estate workers of Manjolai when they were chased by the police, atrocities committed against the oppressed community of Kangiyanur in Villupuram district while attempting to enter a temple for worship, and the beating up of women, the aged and children at Uthapuram in Madurai district.
In many villages, the residents, particularly Dalits, are in the grip of fear as the police have registered a case against 1,000 unidentified persons. The police have registered cases under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage), 427 (mischief causing damage), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
“Don’t be carried away by the officials’ claim that the situation has started returning to normal. Our problems are far from over. We have to take care of the children and the aged, as the menfolk have fled the habitations in and around Paramakudi fearing arrest,” said a woman, echoing the sentiment in the Dalit colonies.
Who is Immanuel Sekaran?
Immanuel Sekaran was a prominent social reformer and freedom fighter. A contemporary of Dr. Ambedkar, he was a Dalit leader who fought against caste discrimination and untouchability in southern Tamil Nadu. On 11/9/1957, this Dalit leader was killed by people owing allegiance to the Forward Bloc leader Muthuramalinga Thevar, of the Thevar community.
Immanuel Sekaran, who was martyred at the very young age of 33, has attained demigod like status among the Dalits in the region. That’s why lakhs turn up on his death anniversary to pay tributes to him. According to some estimates, over a million ordinary Dalits, apart from many leaders, participate in the Immanuel Sekaran Memorial day events. This has been happening regularly since 1988 but was never reported in the mainstream media.
This year’s anniversary marks the 54th since his death. This year too, like every year, the Dalits started making earnest preparations for the Memorial Day. But the Government and the officials of various departments, like every year, started imposing many strictures and placed many hurdles, and made all efforts to scuttle the event. They did not permit the installation of food and water stalls. The Dalits endured all that and remained immersed in their preparations
What next?
The Paramakudi killings bring to light once again the pervasive lack of democratic consciousness and respect for human rights among those wielding power in the state apparatus. There is an urgent need to work for the spread of more democratic values and norms in governance. Paramakudi is a good place to begin this mission. Political and civil society needs to fight for the Government to undertake the following remedial measures as a first step:
The police officials who participated in the Paramakudi massacre should be arrested and tried for murder.
Immanuel Sekaran’s memorial should be allowed to be observed without any hindrance every year.
Government and police officials should act in an impartial manner and follow the constitution and not the dictates of Thevar leaders.
There is a lot of evidence to prove that Dalits are being hindered from joining the police force. On the other hand, unemployed Thevar youth, even if unqualified, are being recruited into the police in large numbers. This has resulted in lopsided representation in the Tamil Nadu police department with the Thevars claiming 30% of all positions. How can Dalit victims expect justice under such circumstances? The Thevar employees who obtained jobs in the department through questionable means should be removed.
The Thevars should be removed from the Most Backward Classes category.
More:
1. Dalits Blood on Road….Fact Finding Report : People’s Watch
2. Caste Murders….Fact Finding Report: Navayan
3. Tragetting Dalits….Fact Finding Report: rontline
Filed under: dalit atrocity | 2 Comments
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday took note of media reports that the scheduled caste Hindus (Dalits) were denied humanitarian assistance and entry into relief camps allegedly for being “untouchable” and has called for a report from the provincial government.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday took note of media reports that the scheduled caste Hindus (Dalits) were denied humanitarian assistance and entry into relief camps allegedly for being “untouchable” and has called for a report from the provincial government. The President also directed that immediate relief be provided to all marooned and stranded people and flood victims including the scheduled caste Hindus. Spokesperson to President Farhatullah Babar said that the President this morning took notice of the reports in a section of the media and has asked the Chief Minister to look into the complaints and correct the situation.
Zardari described any discrimination in extending rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations to minorities or anyone on the basis of caste, creed or religion as “unacceptable”. He said the havoc caused by floods was a humanitarian disaster that called for a humanitarian response beyond partisan or religious considerations.
Source: The Dawn
Filed under: dalit atrocity | 1 Comment
Conflicts of Mannerism: Way In
Following piece is a reflective thought from Yogesh, who is studying in Nagpur University B.A. ( Ambedkar Thoughts). He is amidst writing a Novel ‘ The Sentient Being’. He has just finished his 150th poem. This particular writing gives a sense of direction to the conflicts arisen/arising in the day to day struggle for equality. Please go thru the piece and comment>>
Conflicts between manners of human beings have been restlessly and even apparently saying in complex phenomena, exists among human life since the growth of civilization. These conflicts we have been known since from the oldest civilization, the Egyptian civilization. It started from agriculturists with pastoral nomads, and now its modern and more advance structure we could see in the conflicts between industrialize visionary and traditional agriculturists and one could say on the basis of its tragic phenomena that it will exist furthermore, no matter what structure it would formed, but the intensity and chaos creates by these conflicts remains steady or even it would strengthen. But like so many problems and impediments, whereupon human beings hitherto attained triumph, it seems unlikely to achieve such kind of victorious attainment, as least seeming to contemporary situation of entire globe. But are these conflicts which are deeply psychological and then to its reaction as physical actions, are impossible to eradicate? Are we lose all hopes to do so, or have we lost the sense and will of eradicating it? Having glimpses upon human history which shows us the crude manners of human life at its early ages, and then after passing of several of centuries attained the surprising summit of human enlightenment, are the instances through which we could certainly comment that these conflicts in human life, which are now between two countries, two states, two cultures, two ideologies, two faiths will surely be demolish, in order to maintain the harmony in the universe.
Conflicts of mannerism which advocates in society have its roots back at ones home, in his personal life. In other way we can say that the home attributes these conflicts. The kind of upbringing one gets the kind of attitude he would develop among society, and very importantly being a part of society as a social unit, if his upbringing emphasis on the liberal education and gives preference to social responsibility and integrity of entire country and then to entire living population on the globe, then these kind of social units will certainly helps to reduce the growth of conflicts, which would creates harmony and eventually socioeconomic growth of that society. But one must be very mindful when propagating these values; it shouldn’t bear to new conflict such as nationalism, which is more or less inherits in so many countries, is a matter of deep reflection in order to deal with it. Then liberal education is most significant factor to eradicate such conflicts. But we must avoid the falsification of history, which derives from the perception of concealing the facts of that particular country to maintain its superiority. For instance in India, which forms the country of conqueror, from Aryan till British, have been taught the struggle of gaining freedom from British, but the facts that why India had been defeated by numbers of conquerors and why it has been undergo the period of incarceration under the rules of British have been concealed. If one doesn’t understand the root of problem then problem will be persists for a long. The facts should expose among society, and liberal education will certainly maintain a major role into this. Concealing one’s own facts is derived from own superiority, whether it is country or single social unit, everyone possess a tendency of superiority, which intensify these conflicts. This tendency of superiority is descend from insecurity of one’s own nature, which had many more psychological aspects, and which is purely a folly of his illusionary mind. It is very stiff but must be slacken its roots in order to decrement of conflicts. In family, father feels superior, purely on the basis of his physical and economical position. But when his superiority slackens; the level of transparency and harmony within that family increases, and what is true with the family is undoubtedly true with society, and country.
Then there is the conflict of ideology. Indeed, this conflict has been spreading extensively through out the world, and has very complex pillars, which in today’s world emerge as the most imperative issue, for major nations. Democratic countries such as USA, UK have been threaten by Islamic fundamentalist groups such as, al-Qaida, whose vicious face the world have seen on 9/11 terrorist attack on WTC, New York. In post 9/11 world, the perspective of western countries towards Islamic Group and people has changed intensely in surprising manner, which resulted from terrorist attack on WTC. Terrorist activities by Islamic fundamentalist groups- who pretends that globalisation and modern changes are the threats to their faith and ideology, and who are intended to create the world, based on Islamic principles- are the most imperative threats for developed European countries and developing nations such as India, in Asian continent. Pankaj Mishra in his recent essay in guardian UK, on 9/11 has quoted the comment by Jason burke which stated that ‘Post 9/11, politicians and commentators in the west had, as Burke writes, insisted that “the violence suddenly sweeping two, even three, continents was the product of a single, unitary conflict pitting good against evil, the west against Islam, the modern against retrograde. Now the world is speaking about its desires and intentions more clearly like never before, but as it turns more transparent to express, obviously its results would be more callous and violent, which more or less illustrates the invasion of clouds of warlike situation in the age of modernization, where human race is moving into new scientific arena, but this human race, sooner or later realise the intense need of harmony between states, and nations and of one with another.
India, whose own complex social structure makes these conflicts more intensified. The alterations in neighbouring countries are not negligible, as it indirectly affects the inner circumstances. For instance, Nepal, where uprising strength of Maoism in their political arena is indirect cementation of communism through out the country. Maoism, the communist ideology strengthen by Mao Zedong in china, now more vividly speaking in some part of India in its retaliated forms. Naxalism in internal states of India, is another threat about which Indian ruling governments have been dealing since long, but unfortunately there isn’t any effort appear from either side to solve this chaos. No doubt deepen strength of Maoism in Nepal; influence Naxalism to cement their foot in Indian soils, newly and more powerfully. Then there are few nationalist groups in India, who since 1980’s have been propagating the agenda of Hindu India, even though and when India has been a secular country since 61 years by constitution. Atrocities and caste based riots are the strong instances of conflicts of ideology in India, which are still unsolved. It gives glimpses of conflicts of ideology of one with another, and countrymen with its own secular constitution. There is an imperative need, than gloomy past, to propagate the political democracy in social democracy and that is possible with practice of liberal education, and upliftment of socio-economical structure of Indian masses.
Media who has become a powerful source of expression of views in 21th century is seems to turn little oligarchic, where most of the time the intention of the incidences have remain conceal. The trend of covering rhetoric incidences hides the imperative and genuine news, which are ought to come before the world. Last month there was a flood of Anna Hazare’s coverage on almost all media channels in India, and even international media has covered its updates, regardless of history and future consequences of the matter. Daily newspaper The Hindu which publishes from Hyderabad has published the news on dated 13/09/11, when few film stars and sport persons visited the injured son the former cricketer Mohd. Azzuruddin, when his son met with an accident while riding his 1000cc imported bike on Indian Road. The sense of intention behind covering or publishing the news must be clarified like never before now. Media as a medium of expression of the genuine problems of the society must be work hard at its real purpose. The genuineness of the fact have been conceal, which is nothing but our own conflict with the truth of that fact, which we never want it to come out, which we never want to see even. Here the conflicts being stronger when one acquire the position in society wherefrom he can show the society to the rest of the world. The concealment of facts and truth always creates retaliation, which could be turn out to violent mode, sometime.
Dr Ambedkar, in his historic speech right after he had submitted the constitution in assembly, he himself warned about the threats to democracy. He guided on it that, although the if the nation has the best constitution in the world, but if people who are ought to follow it, would not put the best efforts to implement it in their everyday life, then even the best constitution appear as a dry dream. Of course as he further clarified it by saying that, we must make our political democracy into social democracy, and he was well mindful by quoting this historic sentence, which illustrates the significance of democracy in use of every day life. It means it should be a way of our life and not only bounded till politics. Dr Ambedkar’s extra ordinary heed at the problems of masses gives us notion about his long term and exclusive vision for India. Democracy is a remedy- in other word it would be our righteous way to live our life, so that it would eradicate most of the problems from our life, at least it will certainly succeed to clear our notions about our life in India. He emphasised on the righteous attitude of people rather than best constitution, and he himself well mindful that unless people will change their mind in order to change the society, changes will not come, even though heroes would be appear in this country. And what he envisioned, although it starts from Indian soil but it certainly applicable to the entire globe when it comes to ultimate transformation of human race.
The constitution of India abolished the caste based atrocity, but however there are many cases, even today and every day files about it, mostly from the backward area and it clearly tells us the mind of the people, although illiteracy is another factor responsible for this. Here we can see the nature of conflicts which comprehensively depict the importance of human mind in order to bring changes. Conflicts starts from human mind and that is why it should be eradicate from human mind, first and imperatively.
No matter what is the form of conflicts, no matter where it operates but everything things starts from the single social unit and his temperament, where he is being at the position wherefrom he directly can makes the impact in the society. The outlook of one social unit is very important in order to maintain the peace and harmony among society. Only right and humanistic efforts as remedy to overcome on conflict, could save the world from further destructive chaos, and we can hope as Bertrand Russell says “ Let us hope that it (conflict) will not last equally long, or entail as great a load of suffering’.
Readers may like to reach Yogesh Wanjari at <evolutiontrust@gmail.com>
Filed under: Caste dynamics, democratic activism | Leave a Comment
Tags: Caste Naxal, Conflicts, Mannerism
Dear Readers, Please find the Model Draft for Parliamentary Standing Committee written by People-Activists who aim Caste-less India. Atrocitynews supports them. Will you? Please send any other model to the Standing Committee. Lets believe in the force of Parliament than in any A-nna!
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September 1, 2011.
Adv. Abhishek Manu Singhvi
Chairman Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Through
Shri. K. P. Singh,
Joint Director,
Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Room No. 212A,
Parliament House Annexe,
New Delhi-110001.
The prime object of the bill is to check and prevent the rising corruption in the country and bring more transparent, accountable system of governance and provide an effective grievances redressel system to citizens, and to constitute a mechanism for dealing with complaints on corruption against public functionaries in high places and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 2 Lokpal Not an extra-constitutional Body
Within the constitutional framework and without destroying the delicate balance of the system of checks and balances among the several constitutional organs, the Lokpal and the institutional framework of Lokpal as well as Lokayukta in States should be conferred with reasonable powers to perform its task effectively-without fear and favour in conformity with constitutional cannons and co-operative federal framework. 3 Scope of Lokpal
The Lokpal/Lokayukta and its institutional framework should cover all governmental/ public functionaries, public servants, private operators engaged or connected with governmental functions or performing any function related with the public, such as, Private sector, NGOs, Media sector, Charitable-Religious Trusts- bodies including temples, churches and church controlled institutions, any organisation-body dealing with the public money in alliance with all existing laws and regulatory framework. As a consequence the scope of the present bill needs to be expanded to cover such vital areas where there is large trust deficit due to corruption phenomenon. 4 Constitutional Reservation Policy
The Institution of Lokpal and Lokayuktas at the centre and States respectively including its officers, staff and employees should reflect the plural character of Indian society and hence being the State mechanism Lokpal and Lokayuktas should be subject to constitutional reservation policy for Scheduled Castes, Tribes, Backward Classes and Monitories so as to secure their proportionate share of representation at all levels. 5 Separate Courts
The existing judicial system in India is unable to cope with the tremendous work pressure on our courts, resulting into failure of judicial system in timely delivery of justice and hence the Bill should provide immediate establishment of sufficient special courts to hear and decide cases recommended by Lokpal/Lokayuktas. Here extra care needs to be taken to avoid designating existing courts as special courts and further burdening already overburdened courts making the mockery of justice process. 6. Separate Investigation Wing
The principle and provisions as stated herein above in point number 5 also needs to be applied in case of investigation mechanism of Lokpal and Lokayuktas, since the existing investigation agencies and its manpower working under different agencies are overloaded with their work. 7 Special Courts to try cases
To avoid the misuse and abuse of Lokpal Law, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas should not be vested with all the powers from complaint to punishment which may lead to arbitrariness and selective victimisation. Therefore, Lokpal and Lokayuktas should be only investigating and recommendatory bodies to the special courts for prosecution or concern governmental department for disciplinary procedure against the official and the courts should be empowered to punish them as per the punishments laid down in Lokpal Law in addition to the existing penal provisions under any other law time being in force. Appeal provision should be provided to the High Court and the Supreme Court of India. All the cases to be disposed off within the timeframe. 8 Preventive Measures
In addition to the existing laws, rules and regulations, which are not enforced strictly, the Lokpal Law should also elaborately provide for or direct to subordinate authorities to lay down a reasonable mechanism to prevent the corruption at governmental and allied matters. 9 Selection Process
The selection process of Lokpal and Lokayuktas should be transparent, inclusive and subject to judicial review. The selection process of such Lokpal and Lokayukta should be made by a special joint parliamentary body with representation to eminent jurists, Ex-civil servants, Judges of Higher judiciary and other experts in Law, including eminent law teachers. 10 Wastage of SC/ST Component Plan funds and non-Implementation of reservation policy as corruption
The misuse/diversion/non-spending of the Schedule Caste and the Schedule Tribe component plan Fund or sub-plans fund and non-implementation of the constitutional reservation policy and other affirmative actions have been biggest perpetuated frauds on our constitutional spirit and policy framework and therefore such actions should be brought within the definition of corruption and thereby under the Lokpal Law. 11 PM & PMO under Lokpal
The Prime Minister Office (PMO) should be included in the purview of Lokpal and the Prime Minister too should be brought within its ambit after his/her first term of office, irrespective of number of years. 12 Lokpal & Judiciary
The rising corruption in judiciary has been a major cause of national concern for that a special mechanism under proposed Judicial Accountability Law with less rigid procedure but definite action against corrupt and errant judges is a viable solution to deal with.
13 Doctrine of Judicial Review
The decisions, orders of the Lokpal at the national level shall not be final but subject to judicial review by the Apex Court of India. 14 Governmental Bureaucracy
All functionaries, officials, employees of government and even of private players performing public functions should be brought within the purview of Central Lokpal Law or even separately by the States in case of State officials or officials in the State. 15 Conduct/Removal of Lokpal
The conduct of Lokpal/Lokayuktas should be made accountable to the appointing authority which may recommend the action to the Supreme Court of India for its confirmation. The decision of the Supreme Court shall be final. 16 Other Bodies-CVC Or CBI
All existing agencies such as, CVC, CBI’s should remain in operation and strengthened with clear demarcation of their jurisdictions in compare with Lokpal/Lokayukta but their final decisions should be confirmed by the 5 member judicial body/panel of the sitting Apex Court judges within 3 months from the date of final order. Considering the time factor consumed by the office of the President of India in deciding several matters including the mercy petitions on death sentence, this route needs to be avoided. Once the Institution of Lokpal and Lokayuktas is well settled and proved effective after 3 or 5 years we can rethink about the continuation of other institutions. 17 Citizens Charter
Lokpal Law need not deal with citizen’s charter. Citizen’s charter should be provided under separate law by the centre and states along with Lokpal Law. 18 Punishments
The Punishments under the Lokpal Law should be reasonably sufficient to act as sufficient deterrent to prevent and punish corrupts. 19 Whistleblowers
There should be sufficient protection to Whistleblower.
20 False Complaints
The Lokpal Law should also provide for punishment for false, frivolous and vexatious
Complaints against not only officials but also against the Lokpal itself.
21 Tenure of Lokpal/Lokayuktas
No person shall be appointed to the office of Lokpal or Lokayukta for more than two terms,
Irrespective of number of years in the office.
22 Ministers, MPs and MLAs
Under the new Lokpal Law, the national level full bench of Lokpal and at the States the full bench of Lokayuktas will decide on the issue of complaints against Ministers, MPs and MLAs,subject to the judicial review by the Apex Court. Article 105 of the Constitution of India remains as it is.
23 Removal of Ministers, MPs and MLAsOn an enquiry or investigation of the allegation against a Minister if the guilt is proved then the office of the Lokpal /Lokayukta will recommend the removal of such minister, MPs andMLAs. from office.
24 Constitutional Basic Structure
By whatsoever provisions and under any circumstances the Institution of Lokpal should not
be allowed to become an extra-constitutional body to demolish the constitutional edifice
and basic structure theory enunciated by the Supreme Court of India.
25 Federal Structure
While making the law by all means the constitutional autonomy of States and federal
sentiments of people must be respected by incorporating necessary provisions.
Thanking You
AWARE CITIZEN
***Filed under: Caste dynamics, democratic activism | 1 Comment
Tags: Caste and Corruption
Sitting at his desk, Tejas Shinde looks behind at all the events that occurred during Anna’s agitation, he is left with more questions than answers because of the way event has unfolded.
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Anna Hazare’s movement began with a stir against corruption. There cannot be any denial to the fact that anger and frustration was simmering among “the middle class” (euphemistic terminology media has coined for higher castes) and masses alike. That was the very reason why DMK had got defeated with such a humiliation to AIADMK in Tamil-nadu elections. The frustration with corruption was built up so much that Congress would have had the same fate as that of DMK in 2014 all over India. Although India’s two leading parties compete with each other, they love their oligopoly rather than facing an undeniably rising opponent like Mayawati.
Thanks to Anna, all the frustration & anger that should have worked at the ballot-boxes in 2014 got dissipated with Anna’s agitation instead. Everything about Anna’s agitation smelt fishy from day 1 of his declaration of battle against corruption. He managed to grab space in the headlines of all national and regional dailies. Huge hoarding began erupting around every nook & corner all of a sudden. Who were sponsoring those hoardings if this was a one-man crusade? Can he be in any way compared to Irom Sharmilla who has continued with her fast for last 10 years in an obscure corner of this nation for much worse thing that Govt of India is doing to her people?
He had only been a tool to deal blows on Congress & NCP alliance government in Maharashtra by doing Satyagraha with an effficiency & negotiation skills of a contract killer. There was a moment In Maharashtra when common man had stopped taking him seriously. The credit to his rise from nobody and nothing to a national hero goes to the Indian media & alleged role of RSS-Sangh.
Within a few days, team Anna got formed which included Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal. What incentivized them to join an ill-educated megalo-maniac limelight-hungry fakir and bow at his feet anytime the later commanded? Is it merely altruism? Is it merely patriotism?
Within a few days of formation of team Anna, frequent visits of Ram Madhav (RSS-honcho) to camping site of team Anna made it quite obvious that RSS had a role to play in this agitation. Social-workers, intellectuals & activists from backward castes and minorities were snubbed aside confirming the role of RSS since bigotry is later’s peculiar trait. Given the dismal record (of RSS) of consideration towards anybody else but Brahmins, how are backward communities and minorities expected to trust Anna & Co. in which presence of Sangh-elements was quite apparent?
Within a few days of rise of Anna Hazare, Ramkishan Yadav aka Baba Ramdev also declared his battle against black money stashed in the west. Why was nobody ready to volunteer for team Ramdev? He had called his followers to congregate at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The Government deemed the congregation as illegal & whole agitation was cracked down with an iron-fist. His days of activism were over within a few days while Anna & Co. continued their assault for months. A major figure like Baba Ramdev had to abscond from the site of agitation in disguise of a woman while Anna & Co., when arrested, before Anna going on hunger strike at the same location, were given “red-carpet treatment” to the jail. Baba,Ramdev’s followers were ill-treated, lathi-charged, tear-gassed & chased away. Whole of their agitation was ridiculed & publicly made fun of while the same media and Anna Inc. romanticized filling the jails after Anna & Co.’s arrest.
Was Baba Ramdev offering some kind of competition to the agitation of Anna & Co.?Why such step-motherly treatment offered to Baba Ramdev’s agitation? Was the arrest of Anna & Co. an engineered move to show that Anna & Co. were treated just the way Baba Ramdev was?
Arrest of Anna & Co. had more of symbolism than substance.
Jan-Lokpal bill in itself seemed half-baked, hare-brained, anti-democratic, draconian & some kind of populist “quick-fix” solution. A lot has been written & talked about why that is so throughout Indian media. A strong bill for curbing corruption is already in place and that is Right to Information. Why have social workers and activists chosen to ignore the right to information? Why are they not curbing corruption using RTI-act? Over the other side, if anybody who uses RTI for dealing with corruption, she is simply killed in broad day-light. No investigation are carried out; evidences are forged, witnesses are bribed or threatened, hearing are post-poned, cases are closed, murderers are scot-free and conspirators strengthen their grip over their territory by intimidation. If such a legislation that is effective the world over is not working in this nation, what a difference is Lokpal going to make being anything else but a mere puppet among the hands of the high and mighty!!
The fast got over on 13th day; conspicuously, it was a weekend leaving people to break into jubilation. Were all the events engineered to end on weekends? Am I being too sceptical? People said while celebrating, “Common man’s voice prevailed over the parliament.”, as if those two are unrelated entities.
Anna’s agitation had nothing like that of Tunisian uprising or spontaneous agitation & riots that occurred a month after shameful Khairlanji massacre. It felt like more of an engineered agitation with smirk on the faces of the organizers rather than one that has restless revolting minds and a racing heart which leads to an agitation that throws a characteristic state confusion all around.
Was Anna’s agitation a muscle-flexing of so called “middle class” to show that they can match the levels of agitations that disaffected Dalits go on spontaneously once in a while because they are humiliated, lynched, raped and murdered daily?
With all due respect, who is this Anna Hazare anyway? Does he really understand the repercussions of what he is being part of by going on fasts against the government? Isn’t going on fasts his only talent? Isn’t he merely a poster-boy?
When the so called leader of such a well-organized agitation himself doesn’t know what his agitation is exactly about, then who are the real players? How can this agitation be called as a spontaneous one?Can we afford to count Anna Hazare among revolutionaries like Lenin, Castro or Guevara who epitomize revolt against oppressive and corrupt system? If not then, isn’t this an artificial agitation?
Anna’s agitation has shown that a movement organized in the interest of the nation & which can influence every citizen of the nation can have communal and casteist bigotry by simply excluding backward communities and minorities out of it.
**
Tejas is a final year medical student and a free-lancing writer who thinks good writing has a purpose, “At last, higher purpose of serving the cause should get fulfilled rather than deluding oneself with a chest-pouting glory”.
Filed under: Caste dynamics, democratic activism | 1 Comment
Following is a detailed analysis on ’Lokpal’ (Ombudsman) Bill from Sandeep Dongre; put up on Buddhist Circle platform. We are replicating them here in order to bring the issue to the fore so that we encourage a nation-wide debate. Readers please go thru the analysis and write your critical comments or otherwise.
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Dear Readers,
Jaibhim! JaiBharat!
I will analyse the Jan-Lokpal issue in two sections as follows:
A) The means adopted by Anna Hazare and team to drive their point of view
B) The Actual merit of “Jan Lokpal Bill”- its ability in itself to effectively deal with corruption
A) The means adopted by Anna Hazare and team to drive their point of view:
Law making is the primary function of any legislature. With the formation of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950, things changed profoundly. All Indians have a say in how laws are made and how they are implemented. We can amend or repeal laws that we do not like. There is, of course, a method to do this, which must be followed. These are the constitutional methods that Dr. Ambedkar referred to in his ‘Grammar of Anarchy’ speech.
When constitutional methods are available, there is no case for non-constitutional methods like Satyagraha, hunger strikes or the more extreme ‘Fast unto death’. No matter how good the intention is, Fasts unto the death ultimately undermines the due process. Anna Hazare is a genuine person but he should not adopt undemocratic means to drive home his point. Emotional Blackmail has no place in a parliamentary form of democracy. If two really genuine persons go on fasts until death for two opposing reasons, how are we ever going to resolve? A good example of this came to light when both the two opposing factions of the ‘Separate Telangana State Movement went on fast unto death and as is evident, the whole process came to a standstill.
India has experienced a very effective form of parliamentary democracy and it is best left to it to resolve complex matters like this. Though a very scary picture is getting portrayed, very few will disagree that India is well on its path to the top and a true parliamentary democracy has ensured it smoothly. One cannot invite the death of democracy by allowing such protests.
I will devote next few paragraphs in understanding Anna and his ‘My Way or the Highway’ style of working.
Ralegaon Siddhi has prospered under the leadership of Anna Hazare and it really looks green and fresh in an otherwise dry area. Everybody is aware of the immense hard work put in by Anna and his team and the results are there for everyone to see. Noted Journalist Mukul Sharma who has studied Anna’s village community in Ralegaon Siddhi since 1919 says that Anna is a strong follower of a belief system where the people following him consider it their natural duty to obey, and the exercising person thinks it a natural right to rule. No matter what the issue, there is an absolute recognition of authority.
Let me clearly state that the END is absolutely not in question, the MEANS are. Though the intentions might not be doubted, but Anna has been exercising a set of self-made rules which everyone in the village has compulsorily followed. These rules are far removed from what a true democracy means.
a) Getting things done by way of severe punishment is the accepted way in the village to achieve the set goals. So it was decided that anybody who consumes alcohol has to be physically punished. There are instances of drunken people tied to pole outside village’s temple and beaten. Even the villagers now agree that anybody found drunken should be brought in the centre of the village and beaten. A group of 25 youth in the village has been formed who are authorized to give punishment to drunkards (could you strike the resemblance to Jan Lokpal??). They have been dutifully tying drunkards to the pole and beating overnight.
b) Several instances of using force in implementing Family planning measures.
c) Anna’s authority even peeps into making rules for ‘Eating habits’ and trust this is a severe breach of people’s freedom. We can respect people who actively propagate ‘Vegetarianism’ but definitely not by force. There are hardly any people eating non-vegetarian food in the village. Dalits in his village were categorically told that main reason other people stay away from them is because their living is dirty, thinking is dirty and even food habits are dirty. By continuously putting pressure, the Dalits were forcefully turned into vegetarians
d) Anna strongly criticizes electoral and party politics- no wonder that there have been no elections of gram panchayat in the village since the last 24 years. Even for National/State level elections, posters and pamphlets are not allowed in the village
e) Entertainment in the form of film songs or cinema is a strict NO in the village. However, religious films like Sant Tukaram, Sant Gyaneshwar can be played. Even during marriages, only religious songs are allowed. Last year, A villager
Installed a dish antenna at his home and he was severely criticized by Anna himself.
Kailash Pote, a landless Chamar, gives a different meaning to village, family and Hindu religion. “We do not call Ralegan Siddhi a village. We call it a family in which Annajee is the headman and we are the people who provide service to the family. Here Hindus mean Marathas only. We Chamars and Mahars are never called Hindus. How can we claim that everybody is equal here?”
The above explain the use of extreme means by Anna to get things done which he believes is Right.
Lastly, As BG Varghese rightly points out, Due process can be trying at times; but banishing it for quick-fix populist methods is dangerous and could lead to anarchy and counter-violence. It is legitimate to criticize venal politicians but unfair to denigrate all politicians. Without politicians there can be no politics or political process, only dictatorship. We need to secure political and electoral reforms and reform of the police and criminal justice systems to put in place an interlocking mechanism that ensures purity in public life. There is much work to be done and hopefully the government has seen the writing on the wall.
B) The merit of ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ - its actual ability to effectively deal with corruption:
The Lokpal Bill does not tackle any of the root causes of corruption. The bill amounts to an unparalleled concentration of power in one institution that will literally be able to summon any institution and command any kind of police, judicial and investigative power. In other words, in a situation where the problem is power, we create an entity that has even more power. It has even appointed officials instead of elected ones
There are many loopholes in the Bill which I have discussed below:
a) The three Pillars of Indian Democracy – namely the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary – keep checks and balances on the other, and so they must remain separate, because that’s the only way to ensure that there is no abuse of power. The Jan Lokpal intends to disturb this fine balance by virtually creating a fourth pillar. It intends to create an Executive outside the constitutional framework, answerable to nobody. Chances of such an organization getting corrupted by the sheer lust for power are much greater than the Executive functioning within a constitutional framework, where checks and balances ensure accountability
b) The appointment of the Lokpal will be done by a – Bharat Ratna awardees, Nobel prize winners of Indian origin, Magsaysay award winners, Senior Judges of Supreme and High Courts, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the Chief Election Commissioner, and members of the outgoing Lokpal board and the Chairpersons of both houses of Parliament. Only one person, the chairperson of the Lok Sabha, is a democratically elected person. The idea of a Jan Lokpal is modeled on an Ombudsman but there is no example where a country decided that Nobel Prize winners and those awarded with state conferred honors can be given the task of selecting those entrusted with the power to punish people.
c) The autonomy and independence of the Judiciary is protected under the Constitution, which allows a member of the higher Judiciary to be removed only through the cumbersome impeachment process. The intent was to ensure that justice is administered without fear or favor. The Jan Lokpal proposal of putting higher judiciary under Lokpal is absurd. The consequences are even worse, when you consider that under it the Jan Lokpal Bill will have independent investigating and prosecuting agencies. Will any judge ever dare differ with the views of a prosecutor of the Jan Lokpal since he might face prosecution himself if his orders are misunderstood? Is it logical that Investigation and Prosecution be done by the same agency?
d) Since this country understands the language of cricket well, just try to imagine Indian captain Dhoni on field. During the course of play, several critical decisions need to be taken and it should be best left to the captain on the field to do that. If we start with the premise that Dhoni is likely to falter and should be under strict scrutiny for each and every decision he takes on field, it will be completely impossible for him to take out-of-box decisions. Most of the audience might not agree with his decision to let the last over of the match bowled by a new bowler but we cannot raise a suspicion every time he does so. If we don’t want the whole functioning of the government come to standstill on petty issues, the Prime Minister may be best kept out of Jan Lokpal.
e) We have to understand, there are enough strong laws available in this country to address literally every issue under the Sun. Implementation of a new bill will require a strong will and huge additional resources and that is where the whole problem lies. Consumer courts were created to give speedy justice but today a large number of cases are pending before it just because of lack of resources. The law was always there to arrest the likes of Mr. Kalmadi or Mr. Raja but it could happen only when it was backed by a strong will to do it. State Lokayukta is there in India in as many as 18 states today but only a Santosh Hegde could make a difference in Karnataka. There are strong laws against illegal construction, land grabbing and even mining, the need of the hour is to implement it and not spend time into making additional laws.
f) The resource crunch will destabilize the Jan Lokpal. If both the Central govt. and State govt. employees are to be brought under its scanner, the number of people it will have to cover will be around 10-12million. Obviously, huge machinery will be needed to deal with this. Also, the same system of corrupted civil servants, politicians, anti-corruption agencies, judges, media, civil society groups and ordinary citizens will work under the Lokpal to deal with corruption and just because they will work for Lokpal, will they become incorruptible? Won’t it mean adding another bunch of bribes to the long list of existing ones?
g) There is NO right to appeal- The right to at least one appeal against an order, which affects someone adversely, is inherent in the Constitution. There is no specific clause regarding appeals in the Jan Lok Pal Bill, and that is unconstitutional, to say the least
Noted political analyst Pratap Bhanu Mehta has nicely summed up the addition of Jan Lokpal as one more law. He says, “To many of us, this proposal seems like the way we approached educational reform: if BA is not good quality, introduce MA; since MA does not work, have MPhil; since we can’t trust our PhDs, have a further NET exam, endlessly deferring to new institutions at the top of the food chain without attending to basics..”
I sincerely feel that Jan Lokpal is a Medicine which has severe side-effects. While there are many ways which can help us effectively fight corruption arising out of political nexus, there is only one way to fight social corruption:
The RTI legislation can be the most effective tool in eradicating corruption. The many government decisions taken on critical issues have to be brought under public scrutiny and it is how the government can be made accountable for its decisions. Another effective way of dealing with corruption arising out of political nexus is with the help of electoral reforms like proportional representation, state funding of elections which will lead to uniform spending of candidates and most importantly the right to recall of elected representatives.
Corruption in day to day life is more of a social issue. It is a value system where when I benefit its desirable, when I am the victim, it’s not. Only a true introspection can get us to its roots. It has to be tackled from inside and only then a Lokpal can be effective.
Warm regards
Sandeep
Sandeep Dongre is a sefl-motivated Educational-activist working at Gramsabhas levels. His focus is providing poor kid with primary education based on Right to Education Act. He resigned as a Regional Head with BPL mobile and Pepsi Co in order to work on social issues. He is chemical engineer and PGDM from IIM-Banglore. Thanks Sandeep !
If needed his contacts, pl. do write us: themanuski@coolgoose.com
Filed under: democratic activism | 6 Comments
Tags: Analysis, Anna HAzare, Anti-democratic, Anti-national, Lokpal, Sandeep Dongre
Lokpal : Argentina experience
In 1998, Argentina was a rich and successful country on a double digit growth path. There was equitable development with unemployment at mere 3%.
During that time a bill similar to Lokpal Bill ’Public Accountability Bill (Rendición Pública de Cuentas)’ was introduced at the behest of few ELITE groups who were serious to institue an Extra Constitutional Control over the Government.
There were frivolous complaints, officials were dismissed, blackmailing happened. And the Bill became a tool for harassment in the hands of unaccountable persons. The result was that officials became scared to take decisions, projects were held up and the government lost credibility. Meanwile for the fear, goverment handed major departments to private sector which, in the absence of any check, started minting money at the cost of public good.
The economy of Argentina collapsed,exports stopped, there was runaway inflation, and the country plunged into poverty with unemployment at 50%.
So if we want India to progress on equitavle note, and if we want to prevent a collapse in India, we must be critical, nay, oppose the Lokpal Bill.
Long live democracy, long live Just-India.
Source: Buddhist Circle,
Thanks, Mr T. Shende !
Filed under: Affirmative action, democratic activism, democratic deficit, International activism | 3 Comments
Tags: dalit, failed lokpal, Lokpal
Please find the protests on Delhi Streets against the unparliamentarian attitude of Anna and team. Media included in manufacturing this claut of fascism.
Lets join hand to fight against them..
Filed under: Caste dynamics, democratic activism | 1 Comment
Tags: Caste and Corruption
Why are such masses of people (apparently: in our village some came out for a morcha organized by the Maharashtra Navnirman Samiti) following Anna Hazre, when it is now clear that his Lokpal is an authoritarian, centralized and undemocratically pushed proposal?
Several articles, including those by Arundhati Roy and Aruna Roy, have made this clear by now. I can find only one point to disagree with in the otherwise excellent article by Arundhati: that, like the Maoists, the Jan Lokpal Bill seeks the overthrow of the state. It does not. The movement wants to keep the state, in an even more centralized form, but replace its current rulers with a new set. And Ranjit Hoskote’s comment that “Anna Hazare’s agitation is not a triumph of democracy [but] a triumph of demagoguery” deserves to be remembered. The increasingly authoritarian, even fascist forms of activities are disturbing even many of its supporters. But why is this happening? Many people are clearly tired of the ways of democracy in India, but why? Arundhati comments that the campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill gathered steam after embarrassing revelations by Wikileaks and a series of scams. This is an important part of the truth. But it leaves out one factor. Indian democracy has a system of reservations, which is currently being extended to OBCs – and demands have been heard from Muslims and from Dalit Christians that they also be included. Reservations are anathema to many of the core supporters of Anna Hazare. This includes, for example, a group calling itself “Krantikari Manuwadi Morcha.” Its leader, one R.K. Bharadwaj has said, “Reservation is the root of all corruption. The real revolution is to return to Manu’s merit-based society.” It’s hard to believe – the author of all anti-merit demands for privilege according to birth! Bharadwaj argues, “those with reservation are the ones in corruption. Those in the general category are the sufferers.” This major aspect of democratizing and acting against the old privilege of birth, is hated by those who benefit from it. Now those who hate it are getting a chance to divert attention into the single issue of “corruption,” with the hidden agenda of blaming much of it on reservations! The fact that the Parliament has been considering returning to the caste-based census is also something that has troubled the Manuwadis of India. This would be an important reversal of the decades old policy of trying to pretend that caste does not really exist, that it is withering away on its own. Dr.Ambedkar had a pertinent comment about the Home Minister of the 1940s when the first Census without caste was taken. He said, “The Home Minister of the Government of India who is responsible for this omission was of the opinion that if a word does not exist in a dictionary it can be proved that the fact for which the word stands does not exist. One can only pity this petty intelligence.” Only by admitting a phenomenon exists and devising policies to deal with it can it be overcome. The Lokpal Bill itself is very authoritarian, in putting non-elected people of high class-caste background over elected officials and government bureaucrats (but not, as people have noted, over corporations!). “Pal” means “guardian,” and in many ways the proposal recalls Plato’s Guardians – philosopher-kings who would rule the state. Plato, of course, believed in something like a varna system – people would be said to have special “essences,” gold for rulers, silver for warriors, bronze and iron for workers and farmers. So apparently does Anna Hazare. Arundhati, again, cites Mukul Sharma on Anna’s attitude to caste: “It was Mahatma Gandhi’s vision that every village should have one chamar, one sunar, one kumhar and so on. They should all do their work according to their role and occupation, and in this way, a village will be self-dependant. This is what we are practicing in Ralegan Siddhi.” Is this the India people want to return to? So it seems. The deeply disturbing aspect of this whole event is the reactionary trend that political and social life, especially as dominated by “shining India,” seem to be taking. But corruption of course is a reality. What is the solution? It used to be (in the 19th century) just as bad if not worse in the U.S. than in India. (Not that it is completely eradicated today). It did not end through a supercop. It ended through the actions of ordinary people. Dr. Bharat Patankar, of Shramik Mukti Dal and a leader of many farmers’ and project evictees’ movements in Maharashtra, suggests peoples’ courts as a way out. SMD’s annual melava in September will suggest ways and means of doing this. In fact, corruption can only come to an end when the millions of ordinary people of India fight it: by refusing to indulge in it, by taking action against the small local corrupt officials and powerholders they come against, by taking out morchas, taking action. This is the way out –not “Guardians” chosen by Magsaysay Award winners.
Dr. Gail Omvedt is an American born Indian scholar, sociologist and human rights activist. Omvedt has been involved in Dalit and anti-caste movements, environmental, farmers’ and women’s movements.
Filed under: Caste dynamics, democratic activism | 1 Comment
A group of people, with placards showing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, staged a demonstration in Delhi a few days ago against Anna Hazare’s proposals on the Lokpal and the methods used by his team. More often than not, Dalits look with suspicion on any attempt to tamper with the Constitution. Team Anna has, however, suggested that its Lokpal bill would benefit Dalits more than anyone else. This led me to look at Dr. Ambedkar’s position as compared to the mode of agitation being deployed by Anna Hazare and his team.
In his last, visionary speech after the submission of the drafted Constitution on November 25, 1949, Dr. Ambedkar warned of three possible dangers to the new-born democracy. These related to social and economic inequalities, the use of unconstitutional methods, and hero-worship.
Dr. Ambedkar first pointed to the contradiction between equality in politics in the form of one-person-one-vote and the inequalities in social and economic life. He argued that for political democracy to succeed, it needed to be founded on the tissues and fibres of social and economic equality. He warned that we must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment, or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy. Although we in India are trying hard to reduce the vast inequalities that exist, the working of political democracy is already under heavy stress due to discontent in some parts of country.
Dr. Ambedkar’s second, and more important, warning in the present context related to the methods to achieve social and economic objectives. He urged the people to abandon bloody as well as coercive methods to bring about change. This means abandoning methods of civil disobedience, non-cooperation, coercive forms of satyagraha and fast. Referring to the use of these methods during the British period, Dr. Ambedkar observed: “When there was no way left for the constitutional methods for achieving economic and social objectives, there was a great deal of justification for unconstitutional methods.” But using them since that period, in his view, was “nothing less than the Grammar of Anarchy.” He advocated that “the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us as a nation.”
Dr. Ambedkar’s third warning related to “hero worship.” He was immensely concerned over the political culture of “laying down the liberties at the feet of great men or to trust them with powers which enable them to subvert their institutions.” He believed that there is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered life-long services to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness. No man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of the people of India than in the case of any other country, for in India, bhakti, or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in politics, unequalled in magnitude to the part it plays in the politics of any other country in the world, argued Dr. Ambedkar. He went on to add that bhakti or hero-worship in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul, but in politics, bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.
These views of Dr. Ambedkar also evolved through a much deeper commitment to constitutional methods and their use in the anti-untouchability movement during the 1920s and the 1930s. The 1920s and the 1930s saw a series of agitations led by Dr. Ambedkar to get public wells, tanks and Hindu temples opened to “untouchables.” In the present context, recalling two such incidents is very relevant, namely, the agitation for access to a water tank in Mahad, and for entry into the famous Kalaram temple in Nasik. In both cases, Dr. Ambedkar was up against violent high-caste Hindus, with the British sitting on the fence.
Dr. Ambedkar started the Mahad agitation in 1927, but the “untouchables” got access to the tank only in 1937 through a court order. The people of the high castes had managed a court order to ban the entry of “untouchables” into the tank on the grounds that it was a private tank. Dr. Ambedkar accepted the court order and discontinued a second march to the tank. But he fought through the courts and got justice in 1937, almost after 10 years. He did this using legal instruments and a peaceful mass movement, without the coercive means of fasts and hunger strikes.
Similarly, the agitation for entry into the Kalaram temple went on for four years, from 1930 to 1934. He discontinued the agitation in 1934 following opposition by priests, notwithstanding the support extended by Gandhiji. But he fought a legal battle, along with a peaceful agitation, for the next four years, and in 1939 ultimately secured entry to the temple for “untouchables.”
During the 1920s and the 1930s, Dr. Ambedkar combined mass mobilisation with legal methods in the anti-untouchability movement, but never allowed unconstitutional and coercive methods to take hold, despite instances of violent attack on “untouchables.” Once he came face to face with Gandhiji with the latter’s fast-unto-death and he had to compromise on the demand for a separate electorate with what is the present-day political reservation. Coercive means forced him to surrender the demand for a separate electorate, the consequences of which are visible today.
Team Anna should realise that the Indian Constitution provides ample opportunities for advocacy, through discussion and lobbying with parliamentary Standing Committees, Groups of Ministers, the Ministers concerned, the Prime Minister, courts, and above all through a peaceful agitation. With several political parties on their side, the possibility of reaching a middle ground is high. Experience with constitutional means shows that civil society activists, through their constant struggles, have persuaded the two successive United Progressive Alliance governments to acknowledge several basic rights and convert these into laws. The right to employment through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the right to information, rights under the Forest Act, the right to education, and now the right to food, are some of the revolutionary measures that civil society has been able to accomplish through constitutional methods. It is an opportunity for Team Anna to use constitutional methods and enhance the faith of people in these; otherwise Team Anna will convey the message that only coercive and unconstitutional methods work.
As Dr. Ambedkar observed, due to certain aspects of Indian culture our people are highly vulnerable to hero-worship. How a yoga teacher could convert yoga devotees into religious devotees and finally into political supporters within a few years’ time is a classic example of what hero-worship and bhakti can do. Another religious preacher has threatened that he would use his religious followers for political end which he thinks does not require discussion with them as they follow him in whatever he tells them to do.
Anna and his team should recognise that for a new democracy like ours, which is operating within the framework of undemocratic relations based on the caste system, constitutional methods and social morality need to be cultivated and promoted with a purpose. The Lokpal Bill is too important a piece of legislation to be passed under threat and unreasonable deadlines. All its aspects need to be discussed with extreme care and with consensus among all sections. Dalits have begun to express concern about its implications for them. In a society where the anti-caste spirit and prejudices are present in abundance, they feel that given its proposed wide-ranging powers, it may be misused.
The Commissioner for Scheduled Castes reported about 11,469 complaints by Dalit government employees during the period from 2004 to 2010 that were linked to caste prejudice. Several thousand more complaints under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, such as giving “false or frivolous information to any public servant and thereby cause such public servant to use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of member of SC/ST” are waiting for justice. Therefore, Dalits have begun to seek safeguards against the complaints emanating from caste prejudices in the Lokpal Bill. I think the government has rightly brought the bill for an open discussion before the Standing Committee that comprises MPs from all parties, so that the Bill is discussed by all sections in a peaceful milieu and not under duress and force.
Anna Hazare knows that the road to social change is a difficult one. He helped Dalits in a number of ways, including by repaying loans taken by Dalits with contributions from villagers. Yet he could not bring about fraternity between them — Dalits continue to stay in segregated localities in his village. Corruption, like untouchability, is deeply embedded in the social fabric of our society. Therefore, besides legislation its eradication requires changes through education and moral regeneration.
(Sukhadeo Thorat is Professor of Economics, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University. E-mail: thoratsukhadeo@yahoo.co.in)
Source: The Hindu
Filed under: democratic activism | 2 Comments
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