Surendranagar- Caste Hatred has become so deep in rural parts of Gujarat that even water has become a tool for oppression. A glaring example of this medieval oppression has surfaced in Kesariya village of Lakhtar taluka, where Dalit families have been deliberately denied access to water for the past fortnight—a shocking act of discrimination that has now forced them to seek intervention from the district collector.

As per a report in local media Khabar Antar, in Kesariya, approximately 15-20 Scheduled Caste households have been subjected to this inhuman boycott, with the village sarpanch callously cutting off their water supply without justification. Previously, water was provided through a regulated system, but for the last 15 days, the taps have run dry for Dalits alone, pushing them into severe distress.

Despite repeated appeals to local authorities—including the sarpanch, talati, mamlatdar, and taluka development officer—no corrective action has been taken. Left with no recourse, the aggrieved community has petitioned the district collector, who has reportedly directed an inquiry into the matter.

Surendranagar district has long been infamous for caste discrimination, particularly in villages under talukas like Lakhtar, Limbdi, Chotila, Dhangadhra, Halvad, and Wadhwan. Dalits face systemic oppression—they are attacked for growing beards, riding horses at weddings, or even wearing footwear in upper-caste areas. Police inaction, often due to political pressure, allows such atrocities to continue unchecked.

Ironically, the sarpanch of Kesariya, Nagarbhai Jervariya, belongs to the Koli community—an OBC group—who defeated a Darbar (upper-caste) candidate to win the post. Despite coming from a historically oppressed background, he is now allegedly discriminating against Dalits. The Koli and Dalit communities each have around 15 households in the village, while the Darbars dominate with 25 families. For years, the sarpanch position was held by Darbars, but this time, a Koli leader won—only to perpetuate the same oppressive mindset rooted in Manusmriti.