The Hindu : New Delhi News : Paswan demands ban on Khap Panchayats

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Paswan demands ban on Khap Panchayats

Staff Reporter

‘High time Centre intervened to protect the rights of Dalits'
Demand to dismiss Haryana Chief Minister

- Photo: V.V.Krishnan

Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan addressing a Dalit rally in New Delhi on Thursday in protest against two Dalits being burnt alive at Mirchpur in Hissar district of Haryana.

NEW DELHI: Workers of Lok Janshakti Party, Dalit Sena and Dalit Dasta Virodhi Andolan staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here on Thursday protesting against the rising cases of atrocities on Dalits in the country.

Addressing the rally, LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan said the policy of discrimination and disregard adopted by various State governments leads to such attacks on Dalits.

“It is high time the Centre intervened to protect the rights of Dalits. A special court and a committee must be set up to look into such matters. The affected Dalits must be rehabilitated far away from the place where they were subjected to ill-treatment,” he added.

Mr. Paswan also demanded that the Khap Panchayats in Haryana be banned.

In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Mr. Paswan drew his attention to the attack on Dalit houses at Mirchpur in Haryana on April 21 in which two people were burnt alive.

“Even after that dreadful incident justice has been denied to the affected Dalit villagers. The Haryana Government has provided economic relief to the affected people and also offered jobs to three persons but such incidents are not new to the State.”

Meanwhile, in another protest organised here on Thursday by Haryana Dalit Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Dr. Udit Raj demanded that the Haryana Chief Minister be dismissed and a judicial probe ordered into the Mirchpur incident.

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