Author: Basavaraj F Kattimani
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 2, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Dalits-pay-the-price-for-supporting-BJP/articleshow/7206781.cms
Hundreds of innocent dalit families residing
in Harijankere of Antur-Bentur village of Gadag district were ostracized from
the village. All for supporting a BJP candidate in the just concluded ZP/TP
election.
Dalit families who spent a chilly night in
a temple on the outskirts of the village on Saturday night after being ostracized
alleged that their only fault was that they stood by the BJP candidate as
he helped develop the temple in Harijankere.
Gadag district minister C C Patil has said
that he will hold talks with the upper caste people to establish a favourable
atmosphere in Antur-Bentur village. Speaking to The Times of India, Patil
said that he also visited the village on Sunday evening to assess the situation.
However, the villagers were being treated
as untouchables in the village even before the polls. Now the ostracism has
been given a political twist. "We have been denied water, entry into
temples and hotels after the election. Finally, we were ostracized from village.
Besides, we were allegedly attacked on Friday night, forcing us to leave the
village," a member of the family rued.
"I will hold a meeting with the upper
caste people in this village tomorrow to bring the situation to normalcy and
to establish conducive atmosphere in the village," the minister assured.
Of the 11 GP members, 8 GP members including
dalits joined BJP which might have annoyed anti-social elements, minister
Patil said. Without mentioning Congress, he said that some youths who are
miffed with dalit families for supporting BJP have allegedly attacked them.
As dalit families sought protection, we deployed adequate police in the village,
Patil added.
He also promised to make alternate arrangements
to supply ration to the dalit families in the village since shops were closed
due to the tension in the village.
Left with no other options, more than 100
dalit families including children, women and aged spent their night on the
premises of temple on Saturday night. They have lodged a complaint with the
Gadag rural police seeking action but in vain.
When the families were not allowed to enter
the village on Sunday morning too, they held a dharna near the temple demanding
action against those who ostracized them from the village. Police then rushed
to the village and convinced the dalits to go back to their houses.
Speaking to the Times of India, Chandru Hadimani,
Kanakamma Sandimani, Basavaraj Machhigudda and others said that some upper
caste people belonging to a particular party were waiting to take revenge
against them for their close association with the BJP candidate. "We
appreciated his help in helping us repair the temple," they echoed.
Untouchablity still prevails here from many
years, they claimed. Ravikumar Nayak, Gadag SP, said that dalit families have
already lodged a complaint. "After we promised them to look into the
matter and to take necessary action, they got back to their houses. We are
maintaing a vigil on unruly elements who try to disturb peace," he added.
