Narendra Modi’s appeal goes unheeded in Gujarat; Dalits attacked in Una again, 8 seriously injured

The victim were returning after attending a flag hoisting event at Samter village in Una district.

Una, Aug 16: Independence Day celebration for 20 Dalits in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat on Monday turned out to be nightmare when they were attacked by a mob leaving 8 people from the community seriously injured. The incident comes close on Modi’s appeal to stop atrocities against Dalits across the nation following a number of such incidents reported from across the country. The victim were returning after attending a flag hoisting event at Samter village in Una district. Una was the centre of controversy after seven people from the community were brutally beaten on July 11. Jawaharlal Nehru University student union president Kanhaiya Kumar and mother of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s mother Radhika Vemula also attended the flag hoisting event.

Claiming that the attackers were residents of Samter village, the victims said the attackers wanted to “avenge” the arrest of 12 persons in connection with last month’s Una Dalit flogging case. The members of the community alleged that the police did not take any action against the culprits, while the officials denied the charge and said cops lobbed teargas shells to disperse the crowd and resorted to mild lathi-charge. The twenty Dalits hailed from Bhavnagar district and had gone to Una to participate in a flag hoisting event. Balu Sarvaiya, father of one of the victims of Una Dalit flogging incident, hoisted the national flag at the event. ALSO READ: Gujarat Bandh: Why Dalits have stood up in revolt against the saffron state government?

The Prime Minister recently stated that the discrimination against Dalits should stop and the onus for this lay on everyone. “Stop attacking my Dalit brethren. If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers. This game should stop,” he said. While making an appeal at a meeting of BJP workers in Hyderabad on August 8, Modi asked people to protect and respect Dalits who have for long been neglected by the society. “I would like to tell these people that if you have any problem, if you have attack, attack me. Stop attacking my Dalit brethren. If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers. This game should stop.” ALSO READ: Dalits in Gujarat to intensify stir in Gujarat if demand not met

In wake of the attacks, political parties have slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to protect the community. Congress said that by just changing the chief minister in Gujarat won’t stop atrocities against the Dalits and stated that the ruling party’s mindset needs to be changed. Earlier on July 11, a shocking video showing seven Dalit men being brutally beaten up by a group of cow vigilantes (gau rakshaks) went viral on social media for allegedly skinning a dead cow in Gujarat’s Una district in Mota Samadhiyala village.

Gujarat has become a paint point for the BJP after the growing unrest in the state that began with the Patidar Andolan for reservation in July 2015 leading to massive protests and violence throughout the state. Taking everyone by surprise Anandiben Patel announced her decision to step down and it was believed the Patel agitation and Una incident were responsible for her decision. BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani was appointed as the new Gujarat chief minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advise to people behind attack on Dalits saw Vishwa Hindu Parishad chief Praveen Togadia taking a jibe at Modi saying his remarks  against cow vigilantes that they are ‘anti-social’ were insulting. That was an “insult not only of Mother cow but also of Hindus and all those who gave their lives for protecting cows”, he said. Togadia expressed agony over Prime Minister’s remarks and questioned as to why the head of the nation has given a clean chit to ‘cow butchers’ and victimized cow protectors, who have been his supporters and helped in getting him elected. Following this, Togadia was forced to call off his visit to Andhra Pradesh.