Dalit protests spread to Surat, Valsad
The reports of attacks on Dalits in Bhima-Koregaon on the 200th anniversary of the battle between the Mahars and Peshwa army also spread in Surat on Wednesday, which has a sizable population of Marathis. Dalits in Udhna locality came out on streets, seeking justice to the perpetrators of violence against Dalits. They marched to the office of the District Collector and raised slogans near the local BJP office. The protesters also forced the local shopkeepers to shut their business for the day.
Messages about a Surat Bandh by Samta Sainik Dal, an organisation of Dalits, also spread on the social media. However, SSD President Raosaheb Dhepe said unless the messages are not attributed to any office bearer they are not authentic.
There are reports of protests in southern Gujarat cities of Vapi and Valsad, where protesters burnt effigies. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses from Vapi and Valsad going on about a dozen routes in Maharashtra have been cancelled. These mostly include Aurangabad, Pune and Nashik among others. The railway services and the traffic were affected between Gujarat and Maharashtra. “However, there are no reports of movement of trucks getting affected. We are carrying goods without any hassle,” said Mukesh Dave, …read more
