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 community, as well as Birmingham, London and other parts of southeast and southwest England.
In a letter to the President delivered to the Indian High Commission, the Wolverhampton-based Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee expressed ‘deep concern, shock, and outrage at the violence against Dalits’ and the ‘witch-hunt of children and youth that followed.’ They also expressed shock that the President had failed to condemn the controversial remarks by Minister Anant Kumar Hegde regarding the Constitution, secularism and Dr. Ambedkar.
Chanting slogans, the protesters, numbering several hundred, gathered at Parliament Square, before marching to the High Commission. ‘India is on a slippery slope towards becoming a theocratic state,’ said Sat Pal Muman, a member of the committee.
Bishan Dass, the former Mayor of Wolverhampton, who joined the rally, said: “When we are one country everyone should share its benefits and enjoy its protections... what is happening is a blot on Indian civilisation.”
