Panipat, September 3
Dalits have decided to hold a national-level mahapanchayat against the torching of Dalit houses in Gohana, in New Delhi on September 5. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of a Dalit panchayat held under the presidency of the national convener of the Aadi Dharam Samaj, Shukracharya Darshan Rattan Ravana, in Karnal today.
Talking to mediapersons soon after the meeting of the panchayat, Mr Ravana reiterated his demand for a CBI inquiry into the incident. Holding the Hooda government responsible for the atrocities on Dalits in Gohana, he demanded the dissolution of the government.
The national convener of the Aadi Dharam Samaj also demanded the suspension of the Rohtak IG, Mr V.N. Rai, the Sonepat DC, Mr S.K. Goel, and the SP, Mr Anil Rao, for their alleged inaction.
Mr Ravana said the future course of action would be decided in the mahapanchayat where thousands of Dalits from various states would participate. He also criticised the Hooda government for providing only Rs 5,000 as ad hoc compensation for the victims.
The Congress MLA from Jhajjar, Mr Hari Ram Balmiki, threatened to resign if the Dalits were not given adequate compensation. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the compensation, he said he would meet Mr Hooda in this regard.
Meanwhile, life in Gohana subdivision is gradually returning to normal as Balmikis have started returning to their colony.
The district
administration has constituted a team led by Gohana SDM Ajit Balaji Joshi to look after the rehabilitation work. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Joshi said langar was being organised for the Dalits near Balmiki
Colony.
He said shelter to those Dalits whose houses had been gutted, had been made in the hall of Tau Devi Lal Stadium.
However, in the morning, the Dalits refused to accept cheques for Rs 5,000 as ad hoc compensation to each family.
Meanwhile, a team of the PWD Department visited the colony and conducted a survey of the burnt houses. Mr Joshi said the work of rebuilding the damaged houses would be started soon.
The Chairman of the National Commission of SC and ST, Mr Suraj Bhan, also visited the colony and condemned the incident.
Talking to mediapersons, the Sonepat BJP MP, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, said he would hand over his son to the Sarv Khap and Sarv Jati Panchayat as he had been falsely implicated in the case of torching the houses. He said a police team had come to his house yesterday but he had refused to hand over his son to it.
In the meantime, the meeting of the Sarv Khap and Sarv Jati panchayat, which was scheduled to be held on Monday in Gohana, will be held on September 9 at Gharwal village.
