Mohd Aasif | Caravan daily
NEW DELHI – As the situation in Uttar Pradesh continues to remain volatile amid the protests against Citizenship Act and NRC, a group of Dalit activists based in Western UP Saturday accused the state government of stifling protests and detaining activists “illegally”.
The group which goes by the name Blue Panthers held a press conference at Indian Women Press Corps in New Delhi to say the state administration and the police denied them permission to hold a protest rally in Meerut city on December 15.
“In UP, no one is allowed to criticise the government,” alleged Kamlesh Ratan, a member of the group. “Police harasses us and our families for our activism.” Blue Panthers which work for Dalit rights had held protests across the state in the past, but it has now become impossible for them to protest, said Deepak Jatav, another member. “Our Constitutional right to protest is now gone.”
On the issue of CAA and NRC, which has become a rallying cry across the country, they said it was high time Dalits supported the Muslim community. “Muslims are being targeted now but soon these forces will come after dalits too,” said group leader Sushil Gautam. “We are not stupid. We can see what is happening and we are next.”
Gautam, a resident of Meerut city, said he was detained for three days in jail after he sought permission to hold a protest in the town against the CAA and NRC. “When we ask them why, cops say they are under pressure from the higher-ups.”
He said that he was put in jail with other criminals under section 151 for three days for “no crime.”
The group accused the state police of resorting to harsh tactics against activists. “One of my colleagues Babar Khadauni was detained and slapped with false charges of abduction,” said Gautam.
Deepak Jatav recalled how he was threatened in order to remove facebook posts he had written during the Janmashtami festival. “Before me, others had also posted comments, but the police only targeted me.”
He said, “The police’s way of targeting one community has created a sense of insecurity among people of “marginalized and backward communities”.
