GULBARGA: For the first time, an attempt is being made to unite all the Dalit factions and bring back the lost glory to the Dalit movement in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, State convener of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Sagar) D.G. Sagar, organising convener Malleshi Sajjan and senior leaders including Arjun Bhadre and district convener Suresh Hadimani, said that one round of discussions of leaders of Dalit factions was held in Bangalore recently and the response was encouraging.

Mr. Sagar gave details of the two-day silver jubilee celebrations of the DSS to be held in Gulbarga from January 7. The silver jubilee had come as a blessing in disguise for the unity move, he said.

Mr. Sagar said that in a meeting organised for the release of a book by Mangalore Vijay (one of the founders of the Dalit movements in the State),he had broached the subject with leaders of various Dalit factions. At least two or three more rounds of talks should be held to identify the issues hindering the unity of Dalit factions, he said.

Atrocities

There was an increase in the atrocities against Dalits and defiling of the statue and portraits of B.R. Ambedkar in the State. Social boycott of Dalits continued in the villages and the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act introduced in the 1980s had lost its relevance. The conviction rate in such cases was low, he said.

Mr. Sagar demanded that the Union Government enact legislation to protect the rights of Dalits or add more teeth to the existing Act.

During the silver jubilee celebrations, which would be inaugurated by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on January 8, the DSS would submit a memorandum seeking a separate Act for the protection of the statues and portraits of national leaders, he said.

It would also demand that the Government implement its decision to hold responsible the respective Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police in case of atrocities against Dalits.

Apart from Mr. Kumaraswamy, other senior leaders who would be participating in the silver jubilee celebrations included former Chief Minister and leader of the opposition in the assembly N Dharam singh, Agriculture Minister Bandappa Kashampur, Social Welfare Minister Balachandra Jharkihole, Agriculture Marketing Minister Sharanabasappa Dharshanapur, RPI President Ramdas Atwale, MP, Chairman of the Kannada Abviruddi Pradikara Siddalingaiah and leaders of all the dalit factions.

On January 7, a delegates convention will be held in which B. Gangadhar Murthy will deliver a lecture on the history of the Dalit movement in the State.

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