Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has announced that a rally would be organised in New Delhi on March 12 to highlight the need to protect Dalits from attacks.
Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Athawale, who was in Tirunelveli to participate in a public meeting organised by Puthiya Thamizhagam, said that over 100 Dalit youth have been murdered in Tamil Nadu for marrying Caste Hindu girls, and more than 750 cases have been registered in connection with attacks on Dalits.
With attacks on Dalits continuing unabated, a rally would be organised in New Delhi on March 12 to highlight the need for protecting Dalits, in which Dalit leaders from various States would participate, Mr. Athawale said. “We expect over 10 lakh Dalits to participate in this rally, in which community leaders like K. Krishnasamy of Puthiya Thamizhagam, Thirumavalavan of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and John Pandian of Thamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam would participate,” he added.
Dr. Krishnasamy said his party was organising a rally and a conference in Palayamkottai in protest against the the murder of Dalit youth who had married Caste Hindu girls. “If the existing laws cannot prevent these crimes, the State government should enact a new law with more powers,” he said.
The attendees of Saturday’s public meeting resolved to urge the State government against taking back the lands leased to Dalits and putting them to use for non-agricultural purposes. They also urged the State and the Centre to draft tougher laws to rein in attacks against Dalits.
