Maharashtra ruling front in a dilemma over Dalit issue

Mumbai: With Dalits continuing to vent their anger against the Maharashtra Government, the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition has never been so badly cornered by the very people it claims to represent.

Yesterday, the government put all stops to ensure that Dalit leaders did not go ahead with the rally they had announced in Nagpur, where the winter legislative session started yesterday.

Thousands of policemen rounded up Dalit groups while Republican Party of India leader and MP Ramdas Athawale was detained by Nagpur police on arrival at the airport.

Athawale was among the five leaders including CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat who were banned from entering the city.

Dalit organisations were not given permission to hold a rally to coincide with the first day of the legislative session as well as to protest the killing of four members of a Dalit family in Khairlanji village near Nagpur on September 29.

Since then police have arrested 47 people in the case. The government is taking no chances after Dalit groups demonstrated across Maharashtra last week when angry Dalits ran riot burning buses and even the Deccan Queen train.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police are on their toes to handle the two million Dalits who will converge at Shivaji Park tomorrow. December 6 is the 50th death anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and a venerated leader to millions of Dalits in the country.

Since Ambedkar hailed from Maharashtra, for Dalits in this state, far more educated and enlightened than their compatriots in other states, he is an iconic figure.

Police here hoped December 6 could be declared a public holiday by the government since this day is also remembered as Babri Masjid demolition day. And this year, the day also coincides with the annual Urs of the Baba Maqdoomi Dargah celebrated in Mahim.

Police say, at least a million followers from across the state come to Mumbai every year to pay homage to Ambedkar at Chaitya Bhoomi on the Dadar seafront and this year, the number may double up not only as a sign of defiance against a government which did not take prompt action against the killing of Dalits in Khairlanji but Ambedkar's 50th death anniversary makes it a special day.

A harried police force has already chalked out traffic regulations in view of the mammoth congregation at Shivaji Park. The worst affected will be western suburban office-goers on their way to south Mumbai.