From the margins, Dalits watch Rahul yatra
Ashutosh Bhardwaj Posted online: Fri Jul 08 2011, 02:32 hrs
Aligarh : The Bahujan Samaj Party is seeking comfort in the fact that
Rahul Gandhi's walkabout doesn't touch many Dalit homes. In fact, all
along his Kisan Sangharsh Yatra focusing on farmland acquired by the
UP government along the Yamuna Expressway, you have to search hard to
find affected Dalit landowners.
Most of the landowning farmers who show up to support Rahul are Jats
and Brahmins and they slam Dalits and UP Chief Minister Mayawati in
openly casteist language. All in the presence of Rahul and his
entourage.
For example, during an early morning meeting at a temple in
Brahmin-dominated Sabota village in Gautam Budh Nagar yesterday, a
woman in purdah suddenly came forward and grabbed the mike. "Bolne ke
liye sabhi bade-budhon se kshama maangti hun. Jabse Mayawati aayi hai,
ch****** (a derogatory reference to Dalits) ko sinhasan par bitha diya
hai. (I seek forgiveness for speaking up... but ever since Mayawati
has taken charge, Dalits have been made to sit on the throne."
There were loud cheers as Rahul looked on before he asked her about
her land. Still in purdah, she unleashed a tirade against the rule of
Dalits saying it had hurt the interests of Brahmins. Another villager
said how Brahmins were not heard even in police stations.
If the first two days of his yatra were spent in Brahmin-dominated
villages, today he visited the Dalit-dominated village of Kripalpur in
Aligarh.
Addressing a meeting there, he said: "Land is being snatched of every
farmer, irrespective of caste — Jat, Dalits, OBCs. You farmers are not
united. Is pradesh ko dalal chala rahe hain." (This state is being run
by dalals)
Later, he spent nearly half an hour at Rambhool's, an SC family in
Kansera village, before taking a four-hour rest at Kalyan Singh's, a
Jat home. Kalyan Singh gave 12 bighas for Rs 4.36 lakh per bigha.
"First, four persons came and asked — Rahul Gandhi ayenge to unke liye
chaar cup chay bana dogi. Then he came with his team," said Anita,
daughter of Rambhool.
"Most land in the area is with Jats and Brahmins. Jatavs have mostly
land given on pattas. This is either too little, or falls on the other
side of the Expressway. Not many of SCs lost land for the Expressway,"
said Ajay Kumar, Rambhool's son.
The BSP said Rahul's campaign would not dent the party's Dalit base.
"In Bhatta Parsaul (from where he began his the padyatra), he only
visited Brahmin families. He makes only a token visit to Dalits,"
Gautam Buddha Nagar MP Surendra Nagar said.
"After the Tappal firing last year, he (Rahul) promised an amended law
for land acquisition. Where is that? Who is preventing the UPA
government to introduce new land acquisition law," said Nagar.
Yesterday, Gandhi's first halt was at Sabota at around 7.30 am after
he spent the night at Kalicharan Sharma's home in Rampur Bangar
village. He had an afternoon siesta at Ramveer Sharma's home in
Alavalpur village who said, "Devta ghar padhare." Later, Rahul visited
Panditon Ka Nagla.
Mundra, a Dalit woman, was among the crowd at a Rahul meeting, said
she did not get a chance to speak. "I tried to raise my voice but no
one gave me the mike," said Roomali, a Kumhar woman, who sold five
bighas to the government. Imarati, a Jatav, said: "Only powerful have
voices."
Rahul's refrain for all is: "Aapke sath anyaya hua hai, main aapko
insaaf dilvaoonga." (There has been injustice, I will ensure justice
for you).
Asked if he can influence the policy at the Centre, his aide
accompanying him said: "He is undertaking the yatra as he wanted to
understand the issue."
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