The recent reports of excesses by government forces in Kashmir and flogging of Dalits in Una, Gujarat, has led to a lot of outcry in the country. Condemning the attacks and expressing solidarity with the victims, several left-leaning organisations came together here on Monday to organise a mass protest. Congregating by the hundreds, they raised slogans such as 'Don't Attack Kashmir,' 'Don't Attack Dalits,' and termed the incidents a repression of human rights.
On the Kashmir issue, S. Balan, State Committee member, CPI-ML, said: "It is time the government honoured the United Nation's resolutions and conducted a plebiscite in Kashmir. What is happening in Kashmir amounts to human rights violation. When those who are supposed to protect citizens inflict such atrocities, how can we expect the common people to be quiet? The permanent curfew must be lifted and Kashmir should be demilitarised."
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the attack on dalits, where he said “Shoot me if you want, but don’t target Dalits,” a mere “drama”, Mr. Balan demanded disbanding of the cattle vigilante groups. "We have been consuming beef since ages and I don’t understand why we should stop now," he said.
State functionaries and workers of CPI-ML, Dalit Panthers of India, Karnataka Tamil Makkal Iyakkam, Fascist Virodi Okkutta, Social Democratic Party of India and other organisations participated.
