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Demand for Hooda's dismissal by "Dalit Mahapanchayat''

Staff Reporter

Compensation of Rs.20 lakhs to each of the affected families sought

NEW DELHI: A "Dalit Mahapanchayat" organised on Monday at the Ramlila Grounds here in the wake of the burning down of over 35 houses of Dalits at Valmiki Basti in Gohana village of Haryana on August 31 demanded dismissal of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government in the State and a thorough probe into the entire episode by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Held under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Valmiki Samaj, the meeting was attended by a large number of people from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi and other States. In a resolution, the "panchayat" demanded dismissal of the Haryana Government and also demanded a compensation of Rs. 20 lakhs to each of the affected Dalit families and a CBI probe into the incident to unearth the truth.

The "panchayat" also urged the authorities concerned to initiate criminal proceedings against the area Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police as they had failed to prevent the incident despite information that the Dalits living at Valmiki Basti could be targeted after the murder of a financer, Baljeet, on August 27. After the murder, most residents of Valmiki Basti had fled apprehending an attack.

The two officers in question have been transferred out following allegations of negligence on their part.

The community leaders also asked for a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of Baljeet. Some of the participants were of the view that the First Information Report pertaining to the murder should be set aside and a fresh investigation into the matter launched.

The "panchayat" threatened to hold a public rally at Rohtak on September 18, where by-election would be held on that day, and boycott all the Congress Party functions if its demands were not met.

Two Dalit MLAs present at the meeting said they would tender their resignation if justice was not done to the Dalits whose houses were set afire.

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