THE CPI(M) held a two months campaign since April 2, 2018 against the continuous persecution of dalits and held a massive public meeting in Fulbagh, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Through the meeting the CPI(M) demanded immediate release of innocent dalits, arrest of the murderers, a judicial inquiry by a High Court judge, compensation of Rs One crore to the families of the deceased and an ordinance to correct the Supreme Court order on the Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Addressing the meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury termed the repression against dalits as highly reprehensible. Those who have been beaten up are behind bars and even the right to bail is denied to them. Those who are the perpetrators of crime, who attacked and killed innocent dalits, are roaming free. After meeting the families of those who were killed in the firing, Yechury stated, a mass court arrest call will be given in case the innocents are not released.

He said the real intention of the RSS and the BJP is to do away with the present constitution of India and instead intend to implement Manusmriti. The people will not allow this to happen. Dalits and adivasis are subjected to all types of victimisation. Cow protection is used as a pretext to attack minorities and dalits and now even the constitutional rights are under attack. Yechury also attacked the BJP government for its moves to fill up high offices with RSS ‘men’ who will be appointed not through the UPSC or  the State Public Service Commission (which they hardly clear) but directly through an interview.

The BJP intends to finish off reservation altogether. In the country, out of 100 secretary level posts, just one each is from dalit and tribal background. Now through direct recruitment, even this little scope will vanish. Health privatisation is leading to a fall of jobs in this important department. Yechury called for wide unity in the fight against economic and social exploitation. The unity cannot be secured without building struggles. Struggles must be unleashed to save the constitution and equality and to have an exploitation free society.

Subhashini Ali, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member who had also addressed the meeting, termed the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government as the epitome of unleashing repression on dalits. She stated that the attackers on the dalits came out of the bungalow of the minister. This clearly shows the nexus. Hence the struggle for the arrest of the culprits has to be sharpened.

Jaswinder Singh, state secretary of CPI(M) Madhya Pradesh committee announced the second stage of the movement.

The public meeting was also addressed by Er Mahesh Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Samanta Dal who gave the description of the harassment in Bundelkhand region.  The meeting was also addressed by other CPI(M) and DSMM leaders, Sandhya Shaily, JK Pippal, Prem Narayan Mahaur and Rambabu Jatav.

Ramvilas Goswami chaired the meeting and Akhilesh Yadav moderated. In the end, tributes were paid to the martyrs.

CPI(M) LEADERS MEET

THE FAMILIES OF DECEASED

Sitaram Yechury upon reaching Gwalior, went to meet the families who had lost their young sons in the April 2 firing by feudal goons. Around 35 km away from Gwalior, he first visited the house of Vimal Jatav at Simriya (Dabra) village. Vimal Jatav who had an ambition to serve the police force, was killed by the goons and even his body was not handed over to the families and was forcefully burnt at midnight. Vimal was married just 11 months ago. His wife was not given an opportunity to see the body.

Yechury then visited the families of Rakesh Jatav (Bhim Nagar Murar colony  of Gwalior) who was killed while going to his work and Deepak (Galla Kothar colony)  who was killed when he was about to open his tea shop. The families explained about the incident. Yechury expressed grief and handed over the money collected by the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) and CPI(M) unit of Gwalior to the bereaved families.

Subhashini Ali, Jaswinder Singh, Sandhya Shaily, CPI(M) state secretariat member, Ramvilas Goswami, CITU state president and Rambabu Jatav, leader of the DSMM accompanied Yechury.