DALIT ATROCITIES - 2005 - Indian Social Institute

would soon organise meetings in various states and at the panchayat level to apprise them about
dalit’s rights," he said. (Asian Age 20/7/05)
Dalit MLAs meet Sonia, lash out against their own Govt. (2)
NEW DELHI: Congress legislators from Delhi belonging to the Scheduled Castes met the party
president, Sonia Gandhi, on Wednesday and complained about the Sheila Dikshit Government's
"indifferent attitude" towards the community and its failure to implement the poll promises as well
as resolutions passed by the State Assembly on important matters including constitution of an
SC/ST Commission for Delhi. Led by the Assembly Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, a group of
ten SC legislators, with the exception of the Food and Supplies Minister, Raj Kumar Chauhan,
told the Congress president that the Delhi Government had failed to resolve their problems
despite repeated reminders. Some of the MLAs even questioned Mr. Chauhan's claim to being a
Dalit leader and wanted a change in the community's representation in the Delhi Cabinet. It is
learnt that Mr. Prem Singh was the first to lash out at Mr. Chauhan followed by the other MLAs
including Brahm Pal, Jai Kishen and Amrish Gautam. They alleged that the Government had
failed to spend the funds meant for the welfare of those living in Harijan bastis, indicating lack of
seriousness on the part of the Delhi Government for this community. The legislators also
complained that despite repeated promises the Delhi Government had failed to constitute a
SC/ST Commission for Delhi. Both Vir Singh Dhingan and Charan Singh Kandera said the Delhi
Assembly had also passed a resolution for constitution of a Safai Karamchari Commission but
nothing had been done to fulfil the promise made to their community. They also pointed out that
despite repeated representations to the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, about discrimination in
posting, appointment and transfer of SC officers, nothing concrete had been done. (The Hindu
21/7/05)
Panel to probe MP ‘posing’ as Dalit for elections (2)
NEW DELHI, JULY 20: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is investigating a case
where an MP from Uttar Pradesh who had said in court he was a non-Dalit posed as one to
contest Lok Sabha elections from the reserved Bijnore constituency. Suraj Bhan, the Chairman
of the Scheduled Castes Commission, said the case of MP Munshi Ram "Pal" was the most
prominent among thousands of instances of non-Dalits obtaining bogus caste certificates to avail
of jobs reserved for Scheduled Castes. The panel chairman said investigations had proved that
Munshi Ram, as the law-maker likes to call himself, had called himself a non-Dalit in court. He did
so when he had to sell a piece of land in his native Nagina village in Bijnore. Under UP law, a
Scheduled Caste can sell his land only to a member of his community Yet, Munshi Ram was
elected last year from a seat reserved for SCs on a Rashtriya Lok Dal ticket. Bhan has demanded
a CBI probe adding that the SC Commission has summoned the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary
and Home Secretary, who have agreed to provide records relating to Munshi Ram’s case as well
as many other similar cases. The MP, who says the panel is playing into the hands of his rivals,
insists he belongs to the "Khatike (SC) baridari" and wants the commission to hear him out. He
admits he had not filled the mandatory papers when he sold his land, but says: “Just because I
did not declare myself an SC while selling a piece of land does not change my identity.’’ (Indian
Express 21/7/05)
Delete Dalit slur from scriptures (2)
New Delhi: Delete "objectionable references" to Dalits from the scriptures if you want to intensify
the fight against untouchability, says National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Suraj
Bhan. Bhan claims he has the blessings of the Sankarac-harya of Sringeri Mutt has for his
demand and he will soon meet other Sankara-charyas to garner support for his cause.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Bhan said that references like dhol gan-war shudra
pashu nari, sakal tadan keadhikari (drum, illiterate, Dalit, animal, women, all are fit only to be
beaten) in Ramcharitmanas should not be allowed in print in a society with a Constitution giving
equal rights to all. He said fresh edited versions of these scriptures should be brought out. Bhan
said the Commission will hold conferences in all the states to "generate awakening" on the
subject. In a bid to garner support for his endeavour, Bhan met the religious head of the Sringeri
seat earlier last week. "He has agreed to support my cause and asked me to speak to other