How can group which helped us in grief be anti-social, ask Dalits
The administration in Saharanpur blames the Bhim Army for the May 9 violence in the district, alleging that it misused social media to mobilise Dalits youths in their campaign against alleged discrimination by government officials.
But Dalits in the villages rocked by caste violence hail the Bhim Army whose leader Chandrashekhar has emerged as their new savior. During his visit to the violence-hit villages, new district magistrate Pramod Kumar Pandey said the Bhim Army was on the administration’s radar, though he refused to disclose the possible action against it.
The administration’s allegation the Bhim Army was responsible for triggering the May 9 violence cuts no ice with the community members who say the administration’s charges are false and baseless. Speaking the HT, Anita and Sushila of Shabbirpur asked, “How can a person or organisation, who we always find by our side in times of happiness and grief, be anti-social?”
Anita claims volunteers of the Bhim Army took care of the injured Dalits in hospitals and provided food for families whose houses and shops were allegedly burnt by Thakurs. Sanjay, a labourer, said Bhim Army cadres were in regular contact with the victims’ families to help them get financial assistance from the state government by processing the required documents.
In neighbouring Chandpur village, where Dalits were ambushed on Wednesday evening, Sompal, a Dalit, proudly announced: “We are all part of Bhim Army” and a group of his clansmen, sitting on a cot under a neem tree, nodded in support of his declaration.
In a clear indication of the Bhim Army’s influence among Dalits, three villagers - Sompal, Kashmir and Mamchand said that many elderly persons have directed youngsters to collect donations for the organisation.
All of them believe that the clan must come forward to help those who have dedicated themselves for their welfare.
“It was the Bhim Army volunteers who fought with force for respect and honour of Dalits and now they are facing high handedness of the administration,” said Kashmir .
Majority of the Dalits believe that the successful protest rally organised by the Bhim Army at Jantar Mantar in Delhi compelled BSP chief Mayawati to meet victims of caste violence.