Bhim Army Activists Hit Jantar Mantar, Resolve to Avenge Atrocities by Routing BJP in 2019

With clenched fists and rousing slogans, thousands of Bhim Army workers –gathered at Jantar Mantar on Sunday – demanded the release of its leader Chandrashekhar Azad, who has been in jail since June 2017 under National Security Act, as well as revoking of the cases registered against many Dalit activists who participated in the national bandh on April 2. While the participants of Bahujan Sankalp Mahasabha came from different parts of the country, majority of them hailed from Bhim Army bastion Uttar Pradesh.

Launching a scathing attack, the participants, clad with blue caps and scarfs, said that the meeting reflected the collective anguish of Dalits who have been subject to a slew of regressive measures undertaken by the central government in recent times.

Talking to Newsclick, Sanjeev Dehlavi, convener of Bhim Army's Defence Committee, said, "We want to reiterate that it is not a rally, but is Bahujan Sankalp Mahasabha, where thousands of people have resolved to unite against the oppression unleashed by the government on the directions of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). First, we saw an attack on the Dalits on January 1 at Bhima Koregaon in Maharashtra. After three months, when Dalits hit the streets on April 2 – when Supreme Court diluted the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act – the police administration not only registered cases against Dalit activists, but put them in jail too. The Dalits will avenge the atrocities by routing the Manuvaadi BJP government in 2019."

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Commenting on the arrest of Chandrashekhar Azad, he said, "The Allahabad High Court, in its judgment, clearly stated that the cases were clearly politically motivated. Even the CCTV images suggest that Azad was helping the administration in containing the violence in Saharanpur. Why is it not making things public?" 

Chandrashekhar Azad was arrested in connection with widespread violence that broke out after the clashes between Dalits and upper caste Thakurs in May 2017, in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur. A day after the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Azad, the UP government booked him under the National Security Act. The provisions of the act enable the government to put any person in jail without any legal recourse. The detention is reviewed once in three months by an advisory board, which is formed by the state government itself. The government has been extending the detention of Azad after every three months. 

He alleged that the police action is not limited to the Dalit activists, but the schools run by Bhim Army, also known as ‘Bhim Pathshaala’, have been targetted significantly. "The Bhim Pathshaalas are being targeted because they are imparting the values taught by B R Ambedkar and Gandhi. It is a direct threat to the Saraswati Shishu Mandir and Ekal Vidyalaya run by RSS."

Another Bhim Army leader Kamal Walia said that the police have been threatening the people not to participate in the meeting. He added that the buses were stopped at the border, and people were forced to choose other transport modes to reach the Jantar Mantar. 

Another Dalit activist Vikas Dayal alleged that the administration wants to instill fear among the people by registering cases in various draconian laws. He said, "The Dalit community wanted to express its anguish on the Supreme Court's decision by protesting in a democratic manner. But, the police started arresting Dalit activists indiscriminately. It indulged in large-scale violence and manhandled the families of the protesters. I and my brother were lodged in a jail for 34 days under Goondas Act, when we had no prior cases of any unsocial behaviour."

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Commenting on the impact of police action, he said that the families have been wrecked financially. He added, "After the arrest of bread-winning members, many families spent days when they did not have enough food for their meals. Although my family is financially sound, my parents are afraid to say that we should raise voice against any injustice to any family in our locality."

Asked if he will reconsider his activism on Dalits issues, he said, "We will not stop. Soon after my bail, I was back on streets only to participate in Dalit Mahapanchayat in Hapur, and raised our voices against the injustice."