New Delhi- Dalit communities have endured persecution in the nation for a significant period. However, individuals and organizations will not remain silent for much longer. Following the successful Dalit Summit in Hyderabad, multiple organizations and leaders are organizing a Mass Rally on Monday, December 4th at Jantar Mantar, starting at 11 AM

The Mooknayak spoke with Subhashini Ali, a former Lok Sabha member and a Marxist politician, about the upcoming Rally. Discussing the rally's objectives, the politician stated, “to fight for Dalit rights and against the oppression of the community. And to stand against the Manuwadi government.”

Subhashini Ali revealed that the rally would not be a one-time event, as the movement would persist. She remarked, “Of course, this has to be carried forward. There is an ongoing campaign, with multiple conventions having been held and more scheduled nationwide. This is a movement that will continue to progress.”

Various parties are ensuring that the event calls out casteist individuals and parties. The leader added, “the rally is being undertaken by organizations working around the cause. We have invited political leaders from all parties except for the Bharatiya Janata Party. We will see who turns up and who does not.”

According to the activist, the movement will also focus on the Lok Sabha Elections scheduled for 2024. Pressure will be exerted on the respective parties to formulate caste-inclusive policies and ensure that Dalit rights are mentioned in their manifestos.

Over 100 organizations dedicated to addressing issues concerning Dalits are joining together for a Mass Rally at Jantar Mantar. This event follows a two-day National Dalit Summit held on August 26 and 27, 2023, in Hyderabad, where over 300 delegates from more than 100 organizations participated. During the summit, a call was made for a nationwide campaign to collect at least one crore signatures from all over the country on the Charter of Demands adopted in the summit. This initiative also involves organizing state conventions and a March to Parliament on December 4th.

The call for the march states, “we have invited leaders of political parties to address the public meeting and extend their support to the struggle for Dalit rights and protest against increasing violence against Dalits.”

National Dalit Summit of Hyderabad

In Hyderabad on 26th-27th August, a National Dalit Summit took place, drawing over 300 delegates from various Dalit, mass, and social organizations across the country. The summit aimed to address the issues faced by the Dalit community and formulate a plan of action for a mass movement. The goal is to influence changes in the central and state governments, emphasizing their constitutional duty to establish a just and egalitarian India by removing the BJP government.

The summit's declaration highlights that despite some progress in education and employment, India, as it celebrates its 76th year of independence, still grapples with persistent challenges. This includes ongoing issues of landlessness, poverty, and deeply rooted caste prejudice and discrimination, which have worsened under the BJP-led government. The declaration points out that such circumstances were expected, given the RSS, the BJP's parent organization, openly rejects the constitution and actively strives to establish a society based on the principles of Manusmriti.

The Centre for Dalit Studies in Hyderabad organized the summit, with a reception committee led by former IAS officer K Madhav Rao as the chairman. Other members of the committee included Malepalli Laxmaiah, John Wesly, and Sai Balaji.

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