Ambedkar Action Alert: Dalits Media Watch News Updates 21.01.11

Right from the beginning, the Banda rape case exposes how the criminal justice system in the country can be subverted and misused by the powerful. A poor Dalit girl, a minor to boot, was allegedly gangraped by the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi along with his aides. Soon after she was arrested and locked up on dubious charges of petty theft, levelled by the politician accused of rape. Meanwhile, it took two weeks for the jailer to order a medical inquiry into the alleged rape, sufficient time for medical evidence to be rendered inconclusive. Not only this, Shahnaz Begum, the lone jail staffer who testified in the girl's defence when a probe was finally ordered, has spoken of life threats issued to her by her seniors. It's clear that the police displayed extreme callousness. But there may also have been a concerted attempt to sabotage the evidence.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has finally ordered a probe after a media outcry, and even promised a fast-track court to try the case. She had fought the last assembly elections on the plank of restoring law and order in the state. While the BSP government has shown some intent to deliver on this, it has also been accused of partisan actions directed solely againstSamajwadi Party leaders and cadre. The Banda rape case could well develop into UP's equivalent of the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case. The state government is on watch. Delivery of justice in this case is a litmus test for Mayawati, whether her plank be re-establishing the rule of law in UP or protecting Dalits and the underprivileged.

Deccan Chronicle

Dalit officers feeling alienated in Maya raj?

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/dalit-officers-feeling-alienated-maya-raj-116

January 21st, 2011

Jan. 20: Dalit officers in Uttar Pradesh are feeling increasingly alienated in the Mayawati government and some of them are even angry with their "own" government.

The anger of dalit officers has welled up to such an extent that about a dozen of them, some retired, met at a private dinner two days ago and discussed the issue threadbare. "This was supposed to be "our" government but this time, it is the brahmin officers who have completely influenced the chief minister and barring a few, all dalit officers have been sidelined," said one dalit officer who has remained sidelined since the past two years.

Another officer who faces a similar fate said, "With dalit officers kept out of the chief minister's favour, there is no one to protect the interests of the dalit community in the government. Even though the chief minister has formulated schemes for dalits, the benefits are not reaching the target groups because the upper caste officers are showing laxity in implementation.'

The recent removal of additional Cabinet secretary, Netram from his post and Chandra Prakash from the post of IG Lucknow, has clearly sent out wrong signals among dalit bureaucrats.

"Both these officers were removed on recommendations of brahmin bureaucrats and their mentors. This kind of action has a demoralising impact on dalit officers who, in any case, get shunted to inconsequential postings in non-BSP governments," said the officer. According to sources, the biggest reason for the growth of BSP and the popularity of the chief minister during her first three regimes was the sincerity of dalit officers towards the government. If the officers are to be believed, the success mantra of the BSP lay in the hands of dalit bureaucrats. Talking to this correspondent on condition of anonymity, a retired dalit officer who attended the dinner meeting said, "We went out of their way to ensure good governance and protection of dalits in Mayawati regimes. It is because of this that dalits felt safe in the BSP rule and the state machinery was extremely responsive towards the deprived sections of the society.

The Times Of India

Punia assures victim mother-daughter duo of help

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Punia-assures-victim-mother-daughter-duo-of-help/articleshow/7328904.cms

TNN, Jan 20, 2011, 10.02pm IST

KANPUR: Chairman of the National Commission for Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe PL Punia on Thursday met the mother and daughter duo who were allegedly fabricated in a theft case by the Fazalganj police when their employer Shalini Gujral, the owner of a beauty-parlour, failed to force them into flesh trade.

Punia claimed UP had been witnessing atrocities against the SC/ST and weaker section, and said the Mayawati government had not been able to take appropriate action. Referring toBanda's Sheelu and Kanpur's Divya cases, he said cases of atrocities against dalits and weaker section had escalated in the state. "Atrocities against dalits and weaker section under the chief ministership of Mayawati, (who is) a dalit herself, has increased," Punia said while talking to media on Thursday.

Merely suspending a police official was not good enough, he said. The government should lodge an FIR and terminate the service of the police official who had "implicated" them in the false case, he claimed. He said the Commission had taken a serious note of the incident and would deal with it strictly.

Punia visited Dwarikapuri house of the victims and met their family. He assured them of all possible support from the Commission in their resolve for justice.

The Hindustan Times

CBI probe ordered into Mirchpur Dalit killing case: Haryana

http://www.hindustantimes.com/CBI-probe-ordered-into-Mirchpur-Dalit-killing-case-Haryana/Article1-652699.aspx

Press Trust Of India

New Delhi, January 20, 2011

Last Updated: 21:28 IST(20/1/2011)

Haryana government today said it has ordered a CBI probe into a case relating to attack on Dalits allegedly by upper caste members at Mirchpur village of Haryana's Hissar district in April last year. Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Kamini Lau was informed by Haryana government counsel that the matter has been referred to CBI for further investigations.

This was vehemently opposed by the counsel for victims who submitted that the recommendation has been made on account of "political compulsions under the pressure of Khap Panchayats and the dominant community."

The court, on its part, decided to continue hearing saying the apex court had transferred the trial in the case it to Delhi as a large number of relatives and friends of the accused gathered in Hissar on every date and the advocates were so frightened that they were unable to effectively conduct the case.

"This court will, under no circumstances, permit the effect of the apex court's order to be diluted," the Judge said. The apex court had on December nine last directed that the case relating to the killing of a 70-year-old Dalit man and his physically-challenged daughter allegedly by a mob of over 100 people be transferred to the special court here designated under the SC/ST (Prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989 to ensure a free and fair trial.

The Times Of India

BHU begins coaching for civil services exams

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/BHU-begins-coaching-for-civil-services-exams/articleshow/7315609.cms

TNN, Jan 19, 2011, 01.27am IST

VARANASI: The Centre for Remedial Coaching for SC/ST/OBC/minorities students at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has started two new coaching classes this year. The first one is for the preparation for civil services examinations, while the other is for coaching of graduate and post-graduate students.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, coordinator of coaching classes, A P Singh said that the centre was approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2006 as a NET coaching centre.

In 2008-09, 143 SC/ST students were enrolled.

In the 11th plan, besides SC/ST, the UGC had allowed the students belonging to OBC, minorities, and those belonging to below poverty line (BPL), to join for UGC-NET examination preparations, he said.

In 2009-10, 107 students of SC, 18 of ST, 210 of OBC, and 18 students of minorities were enrolled, while 318 students of these categories were enrolled in 2010-11, he said.

"In remedial coaching, we have to overcome the difficulties of weak students of these categories so that they can perform better in their regular as well as competitive examinations to achieve their goals," he said, adding that the classes for civil services are running on every Sunday in the department of social sciences.

The centre is distributing admission forms of UGC-NET, which is going to be held in June.

The Hindu

Dalit literary meet today

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/21/stories/2011012153720700.htm

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: State Dalit Literary will be held on Friday at the Government Guest House here. Noted writer from Tamil Nadu, Azhakeeya Periyavan, would be the chief guest on the occasion.

Organised by Kerala Sahitya Akademi, the meet provides a platform for writers from backward communities to put forth their views on how they can utilise their experience in a creative manner and the problems they face in this regard. The Dalit Literary Meet would have some noted writers speak about their experiences and thoughts.

Purushan Kadalundy, secretary of the Akademi, said that the Akademi is on a mission to find how much of dalit and backward life and culture has been reflected in Malayalam literature. Writer M. K. Sanu would inaugurate the meeting at 10 a.m. Academy president P. Vatsala would preside.

The Pioneer

Banda rape case: Maya suspends four police officers, jailer

http://www.dailypioneer.com/312053/Banda-rape-case-Maya-suspends-four-police-officers-jailer.html

January 21, 2011 11:10:43 AM

Pioneer News Service | Lucknow

Feeling the heat over the Banda rape case and involvement of her party's legislator in it, Chief Minister Mayawati suspended four police officials and the jailor of the district jail after CB-CID submitted its administrative report to the state government on Thursday.

The state's investigating agency also filed a chargesheet against the culprits in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Banda. "Once the CB-CID probe has made it clear that the officials did not investigate the matter properly the government has ordered suspension of station officer of Attarra police station, the investigation officer, Circle Officer of Attarra and Additional SP of Banda with immediate effect. The jailor of Banda district jail, Gyan Prakash, has also been placed under suspension for dereliction of duty," Chief Minister Mayawati told reporters here on Thursday.

She said her government was committed to maintain law and order at any cost. "The government will not hesitate in taking action against anyone, including member of the ruling party, if he/she was found on the other side of law," the Chief Minister said and added that on previous occasions too her government had taken action against ministers and BSP legislators and even in the Banda case FIR was lodged against party MLA and three others.

Mayawati said the state government had even written a letter to the court seeking trial of the case by a Fast Track Court so that the girl got justice at the earliest.

Hitting out at Opposition parties, Mayawati said some of them were making unnecessary noise over the Banda rape case and Kanpur's Divya sodomy and murder case despite the government having taken immediate action against the culprits in both the cases.

"These are crocodile tears that the opposition parties are shedding now. Where were these parties when girls were begin raped in Delhi.

Why is the Congress not holding protest meetings against Delhi and Haryana governments where crime rate against women is much higher than Uttar Pradesh?" the Chief Minister asked.

Mayawati also warned officials against siding with Opposition parties. "I have come to know that some officials were instigating opposition parties to stage protests. This will not be tolerated at any cost," she warned.

In the same vein, Mayawati said that some officials did not believe in delivering results and were corrupt because the previous governments corrupted them. "Action will also be taken against such officials," the Chief Minister said without identifying the officers concerned.

The Hindu

Cycle rally to create awareness about dalit rights

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/21/stories/2011012152330300.htm

Staff Reporter

KVPS, AIAWU activists taking part

MUDIGONDA (Khammam Dist.): In an effort to throw light on the plight of dalits and secure higher budgetary allocations for the development of dalit habitations, activists of the Kulavivaksha Vyatireka Porata Sangham (KVPS) and the Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham (AIAWU) led by CPI(M) Central Committee member Tammineni Veerabhadram embarked on a 73-day cycle rally here on Thursday.

The rally commenced at the land struggle martyrs' memorial at Mudigonda in the presence of a host of prominent dalit leaders.

The cyclists headed by Mr. Veerabhadram, honorary president of KVPS district unit, pedalled through the main thoroughfares in Mudigonda and headed towards Suvarnapuram in the afternoon. The rally would cover a total of 492 dalit habitations in 25 mandals across the district, spreading awareness on the rights of dalits.

'Apolitical'

Earlier, addressing a public meeting held in the village, Mr. Veerabhadram termed the cycle rally as an apolitical movement aimed at creating awareness among dalits on their rights and enabling them secure their due share of development in proportionate to their population.

"Dalits constitute 16.55 per cent of the population in the district," he said, and deplored that they were denied of their legitimate share of development funds. They were living in habitations devoid of basic amenities like drinking water and electricity, he alleged, and accused successive governments of neglecting the welfare of dalits.

"Everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, religion and political affiliations, should join the movement to champion the cause of dalits," he said. Former Chief Secretary Kaki Madhava Rao, KVPS State general secretary John Wesley, AIAWU State general secretary B. Venkat, and leaders representing various dalit organisations spoke.

The speakers appreciated the initiative of Mr. Veerabhadram and recalled his 2,552-km 'Maha Prasthanam padayatra' for irrigation projects in 2004.

--
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/