Dalit Leader Jignesh Mewani denied permission to march the Una protest

Ahmedabad: In a country that witnesses lynching and lashing innocent people by cow vigilantes nowadays and the law and order of the nation seems feeble to let violence and crime nurture in our society under the shade of Political leaders silencing the victims and communities at large, should know the nation will not remain quite against this violence for long and silencing the uncountable voices of this nation is out of question.

The religious indoctrination is against the minority community which is subjecting them to killings on the pretext of religious sentiments is not limited to just one community but is engulfing all the minority communities in the nation.

The lashing of a Dalit family last year who were into the deskinning business of the dead cattle, by cow vigilantes, that barged into their house and lashed the family, tied them to a car stripped them half naked and marched them all the way to Una about 25km from their house.

The incident was recorded and posted on social media which drew attention from all over the nation. A large protest against the incident was held last year from Ahmedabad to Una.

Read More: GUJARAT DALITS BEGIN ‘ASMITA YATRA’ TO SEEK JUSTICE FOR UNA FLOGGING VICTIMS

With no justice done to the family yet, a year later, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, stood up to lead the protest to remind the nation of the Dalit Asmita Yatra.

The march to mark the anniversary of the incident is now denied by the Mehsana Police stating the march would invite threat to law and order.

The week-long march Azadi Koonch was to commence on Saturday from Mehsana on July and end at Dhanera City in Banaskanth District July 18.

“We have received a letter from the mamlatdar telling us that they are canceling the permission for the meeting and the march in Mehsana. They had given us the permission earlier, and just three days before the event they have decided to cancel it, telling us that it is a threat to law and order. In a state, where people openly display trishuls and swords, how does a Dalit protest march pose a problem to law and order,” said Mewani from Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (RDAM).

Earlier the RDAM invited people to take part in the march through social media on Saturday.

The activist added “We will make sure that the march takes place, no matter what. A rath yatra gets permission, but a march seeking equality and freedom becomes a threat. Since we are getting massive support from Patidars and Muslims, the (BJP) government sees us as a problem. They propose a Dalit candidate to be the President, but do not let Dalits fight for their rights”.

Mehsana has earlier reportedly seen wide-scale protest regarding the Patidar quota agitation back in August 2016.

Mehsana SP Chaitanya Mandlik said speaking on the permission denied for the march said “We withdrew the permission after getting information about likely clashes between people of upper castes and lower castes. A few incidents have happened in Mehsana in the recent past and keeping them in mind, we took the decision.”

Former JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar along with the victims of the Dadri lynching accident was scheduled to address a meeting in Saraspur, Ahmedabad. The meeting will hopefully commence.

Anand Yagnik, RDAM Advocate said “We have approached the Mehsana Collector as denying permission for the march is against the fundamental right of a citizen…We will take it up legally as well”, reported the sources.