The Constitution of India is in danger from rightist forces. It is everyone’s responsibility to save it [the Constitution], Prakash Ambedkar, founder of Dalit Swabhimani Sangarsh Samiti, said in Belagavi on Tuesday. He was speaking at a regional level rally of the samiti.
He said that the RSS-backed BJP leaders were trying to destroy the spirit of the Constitution by amending it in such a way that are contrary to its basic principles.
The Constitution drafted by a committee headed by B.R. Ambedkar guarantees right to life and liberty to all. It strives for the equality and opposes discrimination based on caste, creed, gender, religion, region or language.
But the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre is trying to divide the country on these lines.
He said that it is also trying to snatch away the social security net around the deprived classes by diluting or deleting provisions such as reservation and equal representation.
RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat and some BJP leaders have already openly spoken against reservation, Mr. Prakash Ambedkar said. He urged the members of the deprived classes to remain united against such efforts.
Wake-up call
“It is a wake-up call. Dalits should remember such injustice during the next election and work against the rise of the rightist forces,” he said.
He accused the BJP of trying to create a “counter revolution” that was opposed to the social, economic and political revolution promised by the Constitution.
He said that the samiti would organise a rally in Bengaluru after Vijayadasami, where a million people would participate.
“This show of strength would be an opportunity for us to show to the Manuwadi parties our strength of unity,” he said and called upon Dalit youth never to compromise on their self-respect.
District in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, MLC Vivek Rao Patil, samiti State unit president Mohan Raj and others were present.
