DALITS/SCHEDULED CASTES - 2013 - Indian Social Institute

Kalam. The activists claimed that the book was well-researched and contains nothing that can disruptcommunal harmony. The state government banned the book on May 30 alleging that it might hurt thesentiments of various communities. The government order alleged that the author of the book has abusedvarious castes and even has drawn wrong aspersions on renowned freedom fighters including,Kattabomman, Pasumpon Muthuramalingam, Kamarajar and Alagumuthu. The DKVP activists, however,refuted the allegation. "In fact the author has even challenged that if the contents are proved to besomething that can harm the communal harmony, then he will pay Rs 10lakh as penalty," said VNagendran the district president of DKVP. The book according to him was based on various historicalevidences including, manuscripts and inscriptions to references in folk songs. He first studied varioustopics for years and then penned the book and even consulted eminent writers. Moreover, several partsof the book were based on contents published by books authorised by the government, he said. LSidharthan, a co-ordinator of the outfit, said the book which was in circulation for more than a year hadnot caused any problem. Nor did anyone raise any issues till now. "This has raised suspicions on theintention of such a move," he said. (Times of India 2/7/13)BSP key formula: 16% Brahmins + 25% Dalits = Power (2)Lucknow: In a bid to woo the Brahmins for which her party has been holding special conventions acrossthe state — Sunday's Lucknow convention was the last of such series covering Lok Sabha constituenciesof Lucknow, Barabanki and Mohanlalganj — Mayawati said she was trying to forge brotherhood amongvarious communities from upper castes to minorities in order to win a large number of Lok Sabha seatsand emerge as the "balance of power" at the Centre. "We cannot come to the Centre without associatingall the castes with us," she said. BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, who was thanked byMayawati for "successfully" holding the party's Brahmin Bhaichara conventions, said the Brahmins, whoconstitute 16 per cent of the state's population should forge a brotherhood with about 25 per cent Dalits towin a large number of Lok Sabha seats from UP and make Mayawati the prime minister. (Indian Express8/7/13)Tamil Nadu govt orders commission to probe death of dalit youth (2)CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday set up an one-member judicial commission headedby retired judge of the Madras high court, S R Singaravelu, to probe the death of dalit youth EElavarasan. Elavarsan's body was found near the railway tracks in Dharmapuri on July 4. Elavarasan'smarriage to a vanniyar (MBC) woman Divya had triggered a wave of caste violence in Tamil Nadu. Thedalit youth had eloped and married Divya last year, igniting anti-dalit violence in dalit colonies inDharmapuri district. Elavarsan's body was found alongside the railway tracks a day after Divya'ssubmission to the Madras high court on a habeas corpus petition moved by her mother, that she wouldnot live with her husband. Police have found a suicide not and are checking its authenticity. Explainingthe rationale behind constituting the commission, chief minister J Jayalalithaa, in an official statement,said that several reports on the death that caused deep anguish and shock had been appearing in themedia. T Elagno, father of Elavarasan also raised doubts over the cause of his son's death. "Therfore, Iordered setting up a commission under S R Singaravelu, the retired judge of the Madras High Court toprobe into the incident," she said. Singaravelu is also the chairman of the Private School's feedetermination committee. (Times of India 8/7/13)CP bans entry for Dalit leaders (2)Mumbai: Fearing a possible law and order situation, the city police has restricted the entry of senior Dalitleaders to Siddharth College in Churchgate. The Azad Maidan police on Sunday slapped notices againstaround 25 people from the warring groups that are claiming their hold in the management of the college,after the commissioner of police issued an order. These mainly include Republican Party of India chiefRamdas Athawale, Bharat Bahujan Mahasangh chief Prakash Ambedkar and Republican Sena chief