Bengaluru- Chetana Kumari P, a Dalit woman from Bangalore, has been protesting in front of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office on Queen’s Road, for the past 22 days, demanding justice against harassment and abuse.

Chetana claims she and her children have been repeatedly targeted by members of the "upper caste" Gowda community, whom she describes as goondas with a history of criminal influence and strong ties to local political power.

According to Chetana, despite numerous appeals for help to the police, courts, bureaucrats, and politicians, her pleas have been ignored due to the deep-rooted influence these goondas have within every system.

She specifically accuses Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D. K. Shivakumar, of shielding his community members involved in her harassment and standing against her cause. Chetana alleges that these individuals have past associations with Kothwal Ramchandra, a notorious don of Bangalore, and that Shivakumar was linked to the same criminal network during that period. "If anything happens to me or my children, D. K. Shivakumar is 100% responsible," she said, voicing her fears of escalating threats.

Chetana refuses to back down, asserting her rights and vowing not to relinquish her land despite the intimidation she faces. "I may be a Dalit, but I am not dumb. I know my rights, and I will not be silenced," she declared. She emphasized that it’s time to bring the Constitution to life and not just see it as mere words used by powerful individuals to escape accountability.

Chetana also asserts that society imposes unrealistic expectations on individuals, stating, "I don’t care about a society that views my daily sit-in on the road demanding rights as indecent. I must fix my own problems; no one else will do it for me. Why do educated people remain silent against harassment? We may be beaten or even killed, but we must speak up."

Chetana has called on the Dalit community to unite, fight, and assert their rights, urging them to seize the current political climate as an opportunity. "This is the right time to leave aside our differences and demand our rights. We must fight for ourselves; no one else will fix our problems," she said passionately. Drawing inspiration from historical figures like Alexander and Rosa Parker, Chetana stressed that just as other communities have fought for their freedom, Dalits, too, must rise against their oppressors.

She cited the rebellion of scheduled castes and tribes against British rule, when they stopped trains carrying away Indian goods, as a pivotal moment that inspired courage among all oppressed classes in India. "It was the Dalits who showed the way, who stood up against colonial power. Now, it is time we do the same against caste-based oppression," she asserted.

Turning philosophical, Chetana spoke about the universal desire for freedom, highlighting that after the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter are met, every human being seeks to live free of bondage. She challenge the Dalit community, asking, "When will we fight for our freedom?"

Chetana called attention to the current socio-political environment in India, marked by elections and shifting power dynamics. She believes this is the moment for the Dalit community to set aside internal divisions for the future of their children and grandchildren. "If we don’t act now, they will face the same humiliation and injustice that we are enduring today," she warned.

Reflecting on the historical struggles against deep-seated caste discrimination, she acknowledged that overcoming a 5,000-year-old mentality will not be easy. "Our enemy is stubborn, and to fight it, we must be doubly stubborn," Chetana said, resolutely continuing her dharna.