Village in Barmer where politicians are not allowed

In a unique way of protest, villagers of Arthandi in Rajasthan’sBarmerdistricthave restricted the entry of politicians to the village, registering their reservation against the SC/ST Act amendment. They have also decided to use NOTA in the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Posters and hoardings displaying the message have been put up at different places.

Arthandi, located around 155 kilometres from the district headquarter in Barmer, has a population of around 2,200, of which almost half are Rajpurohits. There are around 100 Meghwals in the village and the rest are Rajputs and OBCs.

Advocate Ashok Rajpurohit, a BJP leader and resident of the village, said they took the decision following the recent incidents of misuse of the act. “We organised a meeting in the village three days ago in which we decided not to speak to any politician of any party. We also decided to restrict the entry of politicians into the village and use ‘NOTA’ in the coming elections,” he said.

Rajpurohit claimed that whole village has the same opinion and even they have support from the SC/ST community members also. “We are not against the welfare of Dalits. We are opposing the amendments only due to its misuse,” he said adding the people of the nearby Ratdi village are also supporting the decision. Same posters have been displayed in Ratdi with a population of around 2,000, of which almost half are Rajputs. There are around 500 Meghwals while the rest are OBCs. Dayaram Meghwal, village sarpanch of Ratdi, said: “I was away when the meeting happened leading to the decision. I saw the posters but I was not informed about it. I am trying to organise a meeting in which he will talk to the villagers and explain to them.”

There has been differences between Rajpurohits and Dalits in Kaludi village, around 60 kilometres from Arthandi, where a few Dalits registered a case against 17 people of Rajpurohit community alleging ostracisation. Members of the Meghwal community alleged that the upper caste members have not only restricted their movement in the village but have also disallowed them from getting drinking water from public resources. “We are also not allowed to buy grocery from local shops and removed from jobs. They are even stopping their children from going to school,” they said.

A TV journalist in Barmer, who belongs to Rajpurohit community, was arrested by the Barmer police for using abusive remarks against a Dalit man who is a resident of Patna. He was later presented before a SC/ST court, which sent him to judicial custody. He is recently out on bail. Following this, Rajpurohit community members along with other social organisations have called for a protest in Barmer against the misuse of SC/ST Act.

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