India’s Dalits demand freedom from caste discrimination
8 years, 7 months ago

India’s Dalits demand freedom from caste discrimination

Al Jazeera  

Una, Gujarat – Thousands of people belonging to the Dalit community, the former untouchables, have staged a massive protest in India’s Gujarat state in response to atrocities against the community. The 10-day “Dalit Pride March” culminated in Una town in southern Gujarat on August 15 – India’s Independence Day – as Dalits pledged to seek “freedom from atrocities and caste-based discrimination”. A group of mostly young people and civil society members formed the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti demanding an end to the practice and the right to at least five acres of land, as most Dalits are landless. Amid the chanting of Jai Bheem – a form of greeting popular among India’s Dalits – people vowed not to dispose of dead cattle – a task that has been traditionally carried out by the lower caste people for centuries.

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History of this topic

The Farmers Who Refused to Leave: A Year of Protest, Survival, and Hope
1 month, 1 week ago

The Farmers Who Refused to Leave: A Year of Protest, Survival, and Hope

The Hindu  

Published : Feb 23, 2025 09:31 IST - 8 MINS READ What does a farmer look like? Over the year that followed the arrival of the farmers at Delhi’s borders and until the farm laws were finally repealed, the protest burgeoned. Amongst the many photographers who recorded the protest was the Delhi-based Gauri Gill, whose exhibition “The Village on the …

Farmers protest live update: Unions to resume march on Dec 8 if Centre fails to engage in talks
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Farmers protest live update: Unions to resume march on Dec 8 if Centre fails to engage in talks

Hindustan Times  

Farmers protest live update: Farmers walk amidst tear gas as they gather on the day they march towards New Delhi to press for better crop prices promised to them in 2021, at the Shambhu barrier, a border crossing between Punjab and Haryana states, India, December 6, 2024. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Farmers protest live update: A ‘jatha’ of farmers from Punjab under …

Breaking News: Furious Over Arrests, Farmers Announce March to Delhi Again | ABP News
Trending News
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Breaking News: Furious Over Arrests, Farmers Announce March to Delhi Again | ABP News

ABP News  

Once again, farmers from Noida have launched a march towards Delhi, fueled by anger over being forcibly removed from the Dalit Prerna Sthal. The protest has drawn widespread attention, with the Bhartiya Kisan Union, led by Rakesh Tikait, extending its support to the farmers. The forcible eviction from the Dalit Prerna Sthal has particularly ignited outrage among the farmers, who …

Noida: Farmers Detained At Dalit Prerna Sthal As Police Clear Protest Site Amid Heavy Deployment
Top News
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Noida: Farmers Detained At Dalit Prerna Sthal As Police Clear Protest Site Amid Heavy Deployment

ABP News  

Noida Police detained protesting farmers at Dalit Prerna Sthal on Tuesday and cleared the site after relocating them the previous day to resolve the traffic chaos caused by their "Delhi Chalo" march. #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Police detains farmers protesting at Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida Farmers were continuing their sit-in protest here over various demands. The demonstration …

Police detain protesting farmers at Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Police detain protesting farmers at Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida

Live Mint  

Members of various farm unions were detained by the police on Tuesday while leading a it-in protest at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border. “Ever since the BJP government has come to power, they have not taken a single decision that is in the interest of the farmers of India, especially the farmers of Punjab and Haryana. He insisted that demands …

Protest in village after Dalits denied haircuts
1 year, 1 month ago

Protest in village after Dalits denied haircuts

Hindustan Times  

Bengaluru: The protesters ensured that haircuts were given to Dalits in their presence The social welfare department, along with Dalit community leaders, carried out a march to raise awareness after Dalits were allegedly denied a haircut at shops in Kadanur village in Doddaballapura. This has happened for years,” said Ramu Neelaghatta, the convenor of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti in Doddaballapura. …

Muslim-Sikh-Dalit Union is Waging Anti-Hinduism Campaign, Not Protecting Dalit in US - News18
1 year, 4 months ago

Muslim-Sikh-Dalit Union is Waging Anti-Hinduism Campaign, Not Protecting Dalit in US - News18

News 18  

Sociologist and professor Salvatore Babones speaks exclusively with News18 on his new paper titled ‘The Weaponization of Caste in America’ in which he contends that Dalit is not a caste in India, and the term does not meet the definitions of “caste” that have been used in or proposed for American legislation to ban caste-based discrimination. Nonetheless, the Muslim-Sikh-Dalit coalition …

Dalit groups in call to identify atrocity-prone areas of new Rajasthan districts
1 year, 6 months ago

Dalit groups in call to identify atrocity-prone areas of new Rajasthan districts

The Hindu  

Dalit groups in Rajasthan have released a manifesto for the upcoming Assembly election with a call to identify atrocity-prone areas in the 19 newly created districts of the State. Caste violence “Caste-based discrimination and violence are issues of social justice, which should get the highest priority in the manifestos of political parties seeking votes,” Mr. Singh, a former Inspector-General of …

Sharmila holds day-long protest
1 year, 7 months ago

Sharmila holds day-long protest

The Hindu  

Sharmila held a day-long protest at party office from the morning as police had not allowed her to visit Teegul village in Gajwel constituency limits to meet some dalits who demanded sanctioning of Dalit Bandhu scheme. Some dalits had held protest a few days ago at Teegul village and even burnt the effigy of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao demanding …

Gujarat caste violence back on spotlight after Dalit man’s thumb chopped
1 year, 9 months ago

Gujarat caste violence back on spotlight after Dalit man’s thumb chopped

Hindustan Times  

A group of men allegedly chopped off the thumb of a Dalit man after an altercation over his son picking up a cricket ball during a match at a school playground in a village in Gujarat’s Patan district on Sunday, police said. Incidents like not giving a house on rent to a scheduled caste teacher in villages are happening on …

The goal of building a popular Dalit agenda
1 year, 11 months ago

The goal of building a popular Dalit agenda

The Hindu  

It is to the credit of modern liberal ideas, capitalist development and democratic churning that Dalits are now a well-recognised social and political force — a transformation made possible under the maverick leadership of B.R. A vision for social justice Ambedkar realised that the colonial regime opened the doors of modern institutions to various marginalised social groups, welcoming them to …

Dalits, Muslims stage protests in Karnataka against reservation rejig plan
2 years ago

Dalits, Muslims stage protests in Karnataka against reservation rejig plan

The Hindu  

Published : Mar 29, 2023 15:29 IST - 3 MINS READ Members of certain Dalit communities, known as “touchable” Dalits, and Muslim groups have been protesting in Karnataka over the past two days demonstrating their opposition to the radical rejig of the reservation matrix proposed by the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government after its Cabinet meeting on March 24. In the …

Gujarat polls: Dalit votes likely to get divided among BJP, Cong and AAP
2 years, 5 months ago

Gujarat polls: Dalit votes likely to get divided among BJP, Cong and AAP

Deccan Chronicle  

AHEMDABAD: At around eight per cent of Gujarat's population, Dalits are not a numerically dominant community in the state, but their votes are likely to get divided among the ruling BJP, opposition Congress and the new entrant Aam Aadmi Party in the upcoming Assembly elections, say political observers. With the new entrant AAP laying claim to the legacy of Dr …

Political Matrix: Dalit Politics is Evolving in Gujarat. Can It Influence 2022 Results?
2 years, 10 months ago

Political Matrix: Dalit Politics is Evolving in Gujarat. Can It Influence 2022 Results?

News 18  

Politics is ingrained in Indian society. As we know, numbers matter a lot in democracy: numbers give subaltern social groups the capacity to aspire and acquire political influence and hissedari in resources, development and power. Like in other parts of India, Scheduled Castes or SCs in Gujarat too have not yet evolved as a politically powerful bloc; they are still …

Dalits stage protest in Bharatpur against attack on rally
2 years, 11 months ago

Dalits stage protest in Bharatpur against attack on rally

Hindustan Times  

Jaipur: Dalits took to the streets at Seh in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur on Tuesday against an alleged attack on a rally to mark Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14, which left nine people injured. “They are levelling false allegations of theft against Dalits.” Ranjan said stones were thrown at the rally and that a complaint was lodged against nine. “.one …

100 days of the farmers’ protest: Forging new solidarities across castes and communities
4 years ago

100 days of the farmers’ protest: Forging new solidarities across castes and communities

The Hindu  

The ongoing farmers’ protest at the borders of Delhi against the three farm laws—Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Act, Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act and the Essential Commodities Act, 2020—shows little signs of abating. The slogan of “ Kisan mazdoor ekta zindabad ”, which had become the rallying slogan at every protest meeting, had been crafted …

India's Dalit Muslims, marginalised historically and in the present day, find scant mention in mainstream discourse
4 years, 5 months ago

India's Dalit Muslims, marginalised historically and in the present day, find scant mention in mainstream discourse

Firstpost  

Violence against Dalits elicits a set of responses: debates on casteism and discrimination; support for #DalitLivesMatter; politicians capitalising on the situation. Taking assistance from Santos’s conception, we also need to dismantle the monolithic imagining of Muslims in India, because this blanket understanding veils the marginalities of Dalit Muslims. Likewise, the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities or Rangnath Mishra …

Farmers’ Protests LIVE Updates: Farmers Go Shirtless at Punjab 'Rail Roko'; 70 RLD Workers Booked in UP
4 years, 6 months ago

Farmers’ Protests LIVE Updates: Farmers Go Shirtless at Punjab 'Rail Roko'; 70 RLD Workers Booked in UP

News 18  

Farmers’ Protests LIVE Updates: Squatting on a railway track in Punjab’s Amritsar as part of their ‘rail roko’ protest, a group of farmers affiliated with the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee went shirtless in protest against the three agri-marketing bills passed recently by Parliament. The most widespread protests were in Punjab and Haryana, but demonstrations were also reported from Uttar Pradesh, …

Dalit victim of the communal clashes in Jaunpur narrates attack by Muslims
4 years, 9 months ago

Dalit victim of the communal clashes in Jaunpur narrates attack by Muslims

Op India  

Dalit colony in Bhadethi village in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh was engulfed with raging conflagration on June 9 as Muslims in the region launched an attack against the Dalit settlements. At least 35 people, including Samajwadi Party leader Javed Siddiqui, have been arrested in connection with setting ablaze the houses of Dalits in the Dalit Basti in a Jaunpur …

US protests trigger calls by India’s Dalits to end discrimination
4 years, 9 months ago

US protests trigger calls by India’s Dalits to end discrimination

Al Jazeera  

Spurred on by the anti-racism protests in the United States, Dalits have called on India to acknowledge centuries of oppression they have endured. “We extend our solidarity because we feel them and we have faced discrimination ourselves,” said Omprakash Mahato, president of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association, a Dalit organisation at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University. ‘Good moment to …

U.S. Black Lives Matter protests spur calls for India to wake up to Dalit discrimination
4 years, 9 months ago

U.S. Black Lives Matter protests spur calls for India to wake up to Dalit discrimination

The Hindu  

Spurred on by U.S. anti-racism protests, Dalit campaigners on June 10 called on India to acknowledge centuries of oppression they have endured and recognise that “every life matters”. “We extend our solidarity because we feel them and we have faced discrimination ourselves,” said Omprakash Mahato, president of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association, a Dalit organisation at Jawaharlal Nehru University. …

Give dalits education & jobs, and forget quotas
5 years, 7 months ago

Give dalits education & jobs, and forget quotas

Deccan Chronicle  

Even the late Jagjivan Ram, a proud champion of dalits long before they had fastened on the word to denote their identity, acknowledged there could be no true equality in India until quotas and reservations had become unnecessary. Britain’s equality legislation doesn’t expressly forbid such practices, but the amended Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010 requires the government to …

Dalits of Gujarat’s Lhor Gam Only Feel Safe With Police Protection
5 years, 10 months ago

Dalits of Gujarat’s Lhor Gam Only Feel Safe With Police Protection

The Quint  

Loudspeakers blared outside Lhor Gam in Mehsana, Gujarat under the harsh mid-day sun, as another Dalit baraat made its way into the village on Thursday, 16 May. Men and women of all ages were dancing with gusto to Arvind Vegda’s ever-green Gujarati hit song Bhai-Bhai, under the watchful of eye of the police. On the surface, things looked quite jovial; …

Union minister Ramdas Athawale to move Supreme Court over usage of 'Dalit' to refer to Scheduled Castes
6 years, 6 months ago

Union minister Ramdas Athawale to move Supreme Court over usage of 'Dalit' to refer to Scheduled Castes

Firstpost  

New Delhi: The Republican Party of India, an ally of the BJP, will move the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court directive against the use of the word ‘Dalit’ by media, according to RPI leader and Union minister Ramdas Athawale. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had earlier suggested that the media use the word “Scheduled Castes ”, in …

BJP to focus on Dalit outreach, Hindutva ideology in UP as battle 2019 looms
6 years, 7 months ago

BJP to focus on Dalit outreach, Hindutva ideology in UP as battle 2019 looms

Hindustan Times  

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s strategy in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2019 national elections will revolve around Hindutva, nationalism, an outreach to Dalits and Other Backward Classes to counter the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party ’s possible alliance, party leaders aware of the plan said. West Uttar Pradesh, where Meerut is located, has a sizeable Dalit and OBC population.T …

Together, Mayawati and I can build a pan-India dalit movement'
6 years, 8 months ago

Together, Mayawati and I can build a pan-India dalit movement'

Deccan Chronicle  

Independent MLA from Gujarat’s Vadgam and dalit youth icon Jignesh Mevani is going to ‘approach’ Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati to elicit her help in fulfilling his commitments to his electorate, and especially in building a nationwide dalit movement in the country in the context of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. You are the …

Dalit conversions: An act of rebellion against caste supremacy
6 years, 9 months ago

Dalit conversions: An act of rebellion against caste supremacy

Al Jazeera  

The recent mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism in Gujarat’s Una district, which included the Dalits who were brutally assaulted by cow vigilantes for allegedly skinning dead cattle, has stirred anxiety among the upper-caste Hindu intelligentsia. Once again, India’s liberals, radical leftists and conservatives are asking, if not in one then in an analogous voice: “Why are Dalits choosing conversion?” …

Of Dalit awakening, upper-caste jealousy
6 years, 9 months ago

Of Dalit awakening, upper-caste jealousy

The Hindu  

MARTIN MACWAN is a Dalit rights activist and the founder of the Navsarjan Trust, a non-governmental organisation working among Gujarat’s Dalits since 1989. Gujarat’s Dalits constitute barely 7 per cent of the population of the State and 2.33 per cent of the population of all Dalits in India. Thirdly, it was found that in seven districts where information was available, …

Indian police arrest Dalit activists amid criticism
6 years, 9 months ago

Indian police arrest Dalit activists amid criticism

Al Jazeera  

Arrests made in connection with clashes between lower caste Dalits and upper caste groups. Police in the Indian state of Maharashtra on Wednesday arrested five Dalit activists on charges of inciting violence earlier this year, drawing criticism from community leaders. The arrests of the Dalit writers and activists – Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, and Surendra Gadling – were …

Four years of Modi govt: Welfare crucial to capping Dalit anger
6 years, 10 months ago

Four years of Modi govt: Welfare crucial to capping Dalit anger

Hindustan Times  

On April 2, violent protests swept northern India when Dalit protesters took to the streets against the Supreme Court’s order banning automatic arrests under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. The 2016 campus unrest that started with the suicide of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula and the flogging of a Dalit family in Gujarat’s Una by …

BJP's Dalit outreach scheme in trouble
6 years, 10 months ago

BJP's Dalit outreach scheme in trouble

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi/Lucknow: The ruling BJP’s so-called “dalit outreach” seems to have got a major setback as several saffron dalit leaders and legislators have come out openly against it. While BJP dalit leader and Bhairaich MP Savitri Bai Phule called the initiative to reach out to dalits by party leaders as a “fake show” and even predicted it will neither help …

'This is really dangerous situation,' says BJP MP Udit Raj on mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism
6 years, 11 months ago

'This is really dangerous situation,' says BJP MP Udit Raj on mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism

ABP News  

New Delhi: Commenting on mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism from Gujarat's Una, BJP MP Udit Raj termed the situation as "dangerous". This is really a dangerous situation," he said, reported news agency ANI on Monday. More than a thousand Dalits participated in the event in Saurashtra region, where cow vigilantes had allegedly flogged seven Dalits for skinning the carcass …

Una Dalit victims embrace Buddhism with 300 others
6 years, 11 months ago

Una Dalit victims embrace Buddhism with 300 others

The Quint  

Una, April 29 Four Dalit youngsters, who were flogged by self-styled cow vigilantes for skinning a dead cow in Gujarat in 2016, on Sunday embraced Buddhism along with their families and about 300 others, to protest against discrimination and atrocities on them. Balubhai Sarvaiya, whose three sons and their cousin were flogged and paraded naked for over 15 km, converted …

Karnataka polls: A secular party in power only way to uphold Dalit rights, says activist Indudhara Honnapura
6 years, 11 months ago

Karnataka polls: A secular party in power only way to uphold Dalit rights, says activist Indudhara Honnapura

Firstpost  

In Part-3 of a five-part series on prominent Dalit activists who have a deep influence on the politics of Karnataka, Indudhara Honnapura, editor of Samvaada, says that people from the community should support any political party that is not linked to BJP Editor’s note: Elections to the Karnataka Assembly are scheduled for 12 May and they come at a time …

Dalit movements across India will be a front against hegemonic nationalism
6 years, 11 months ago

Dalit movements across India will be a front against hegemonic nationalism

Hindustan Times  

Once again the debate on caste has collapsed into a predictable numbers game. Dalit mobilisation is at an all-time spontaneous high, and this is the time to foster lateral pan-Indian networks of Dalit resistance Given that Dalit demonstrations and protests have largely happened spontaneously, without any kind of institutional party support, this post-facto waxing eloquent for Dalit interests is all …

To make their voices heard, Dalits need to protest 365 days a year
6 years, 11 months ago

To make their voices heard, Dalits need to protest 365 days a year

Hindustan Times  

There is a growing crisis of faith among Dalits regarding their rights in a country marked by social, juridical, economic, and political injustices. Unless Dalits move away from the personality of victimhood and assert a responsive strategy, their life will be doomed to failure and untimely death. Unless the Dalit constituency demands its fair share and refuses to bow down, …

'There are Dalit millionaires... so why are they protesting?': NYT tweet a classic case of 'hot takes' gone wrong
6 years, 11 months ago

'There are Dalit millionaires... so why are they protesting?': NYT tweet a classic case of 'hot takes' gone wrong

Firstpost  

The New York Times tweet on Dalit protests courted bitter reactions from many Twitter users as they pointed out that the clickbaity caption was insensitive. In an article titled, Lower-Caste Fury Shakes India, and Hints at Fiery Election Ahead, The New York Times strictly pointed out the what’s and why’s of the situation. https://t.co/zhjUdHVizj — New York Times World April …

A ‘Dalit Spring’ is on the horizon
6 years, 11 months ago

A ‘Dalit Spring’ is on the horizon

Al Jazeera  

On April 2, hundreds of thousands of India’s Dalits poured into the streets to take part in the Bharat Bandh, or all-India strike, called by Dalit organisations across the country. Trying to preserve the caste system The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes together constitute more than 20 percent of India’s population – approximately 250 million people. Diluting reservations The Dalits …

Bhim Army to hold protests over atrocities against Dalits on 18 April in Delhi, demonstrators to court 'mass arrest'
6 years, 11 months ago

Bhim Army to hold protests over atrocities against Dalits on 18 April in Delhi, demonstrators to court 'mass arrest'

Firstpost  

Alleging atrocities against Dalits have increased since the ‘Bharat Bandh’, the Bhim Army on Saturday said it will hold a peaceful protest in Delhi on 18 April during which the demonstrators would “court mass arrest” New Delhi: Alleging atrocities against Dalits have increased since the ‘ Bharat Bandh ’, the Bhim Army on Saturday said it will hold a peaceful …

Bharat Bandh violence: Opposition won't be able to provoke Dalits, says UP Dy CM Dinesh Sharma
6 years, 11 months ago

Bharat Bandh violence: Opposition won't be able to provoke Dalits, says UP Dy CM Dinesh Sharma

India TV News  

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Dinesh Sharma today said that the BJP gave top honour to backwards and Dalits and a "distressed" opposition's move to "provoke" Dalits against his party would not be successful. The opposition is distressed as our party gave top priority to these sections of the society besides working on slogan 'sabka saath-sabka vikas' for taking along everyone," …

Dalit protests: 5,000 booked, 32 arrested for rioting in Ghaziabad
6 years, 11 months ago

Dalit protests: 5,000 booked, 32 arrested for rioting in Ghaziabad

Hindustan Times  

As many as 5,000 people have been booked for creating ruckus and damaging public and government properties in Ghaziabad during protests against the alleged dilution of the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act, the SSP said. The protesters from Dalit organisations jammed the Ghaziabad-Hapur road till 1am and also blocked roads and held protests in other parts …

Dalit protests: Outfits at centre of Bharat Bandh refuse to take blame for arson
6 years, 11 months ago

Dalit protests: Outfits at centre of Bharat Bandh refuse to take blame for arson

Hindustan Times  

Bheem Sena and Meen Sena, the two organisations at the forefront of the April 2 nationwide strike in protest against the alleged dilution of a law safeguarding scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, were known little in Rajasthan until the protests turned violent on Monday. Members of Dalit community stage protest during 'Bharat Bandh' against the alleged 'dilution' of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled …

Bharat Bandh brings India to a standstill: 3 reasons why Dalits are angry
6 years, 11 months ago

Bharat Bandh brings India to a standstill: 3 reasons why Dalits are angry

Hindustan Times  

Nine people were killed in clashes on Monday as Dalit groups – angered over an alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act – carried out protests across several northern states, even as the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its recent judgment in the matter. Read: Bharat Bandh: What happened where during Dalit protests The Bharat Bandh showed …

Dalits in India hold protests against ‘dilution’ of SC/ST Act
7 years ago

Dalits in India hold protests against ‘dilution’ of SC/ST Act

Al Jazeera  

At least four dead during nationwide rallies against court order that activists say diluted law against caste atrocity. Dalits in India have organised mass protests against a Supreme Court ruling, which activists say will likely dilute a stringent law that was enacted to address atrocities against the former untouchables. “I tell the government that you have troubled the Dalit people …

U.K. Dalit groups stage protest
7 years, 2 months ago

U.K. Dalit groups stage protest

The Hindu  

Members of Dalit organisations, social activists and other members of the Indian diaspora in the U.K. came together for a protest in central London to express their concern about the Koregaon-Bhima violence and to call for President Ram Nath Kovind to speak out against an increasing hostile atmosphere for Dalit communities. Activists travelled from Wolverhampton, home to a large Indian …

Dalit defiance
7 years, 2 months ago

Dalit defiance

The Hindu  

On the road from Pune to Ahmednagar in western Maharashtra stands an obelisk. The day marks an important date in Dalit history because it was when the British East India Company’s soldiers defeated the army of Peshwa Bajirao II in the battle of Koregaon on January 1, 1818. Prakash Ambedkar of the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh party, grandson of Dr Ambedkar, …

Dalit protests: How Mumbai was shut down
7 years, 2 months ago

Dalit protests: How Mumbai was shut down

Al Jazeera  

Mumbai, India – On January 1 each year, members of India‘s Dalit community gather to mark the 1818 battle of Bhima-Koregaon In that fight, two centuries ago, low-caste Dalits sided with the British army to defeat the upper-caste Peshwa rulers. This year’s commemoration events, however, were marred by deadly violence after their rally in Bhima-Koregaon, in the state of Maharashtra, …

Growing Dalit alienation may become cause of concern for BJP ahead of Assembly elections in eight states
7 years, 2 months ago

Growing Dalit alienation may become cause of concern for BJP ahead of Assembly elections in eight states

Firstpost  

For the BJP, the latest confrontation with the Dalits carries a disturbing message on the eve of elections in as many as eight states this year, including those where the party is expected to face the anti-incumbency factor For the third time since the Narendra Modi government’s assumption of office, the Dalits have come into conflict with the Hindutva brigade. …

Dalit protests shake BJP's fort as rise in casteism challenges party's politics of Hindutva-laced nationalism
7 years, 2 months ago

Dalit protests shake BJP's fort as rise in casteism challenges party's politics of Hindutva-laced nationalism

Firstpost  

If Dalits continue to clash with upper-caste Hindus, it would destroy its dream of a ‘virat’ Hindu ‘parivar’ that votes just for the BJP. When Gurjars, who are currently among the OBCs, took to the streets for their inclusion in STs in 2007-08, the BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje promised them five percent reservation as special backward classes. But, …

Maharashtra protests: Why have Dalit outfits become aggressive?
7 years, 2 months ago

Maharashtra protests: Why have Dalit outfits become aggressive?

Hindustan Times  

For two days, Mumbai was held to ransom by Dalit protestors. Other parts of the state of Maharashtra, including Pune, were affected too, with law enforcement officials and administrators completely under-estimating the number of Dalits who would participate in the protests. In some way, the reaction of the Dalit groups should be seen as a reaction to the agitation staged …

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