Desecration of Ambedkar Image Sparks Outrage in Haryana's Dalit Community

Hisar- In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the Dalit community, a reprehensible act of desecrating an image of the revered leader Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar came to light on the occasion of Independence Day. This appalling act, which took place in the Uklana area of Hisar district, Haryana, has ignited outrage across the nation, shedding light on the persistent caste-based prejudices that continue to plague society. The incident, captured in a viral video, has evoked strong condemnation from both Dalit activists and the broader public, prompting calls for immediate and stringent action against those responsible.

Reports of desecration of Ambedkar statues in various parts of the country often fly thick and fast on the internet. In a similar incident reflecting the casteist mindset, a man in a Pathani suit is seen torching a flex image of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, which goes up in flames within a minute. The incident is reported to be from Buddha Khera village under the Uklana police station in the Hisar district of Haryana.

The video, which surfaced on social media, has outraged the Dalit community. Furious netizens have demanded strict action against the perpetrators. Demanding action , Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad posted on social media, "The incident in the Uklana area of Hisar district in Haryana, where some anti-social elements lit an image of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar to celebrate Independence Day, not only reflects the hateful mindset but also indicates that the country is yet to break free from the grasp of caste." He also urged the Hisar police to take action against the accused.

Two accused have been arrested by the police. Speaking to The Mooknayak, Ashok Kumar, SHO at Uklana Police Station, said that a case has been registered under Section 295(A) (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 153 (A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence 34 IPC (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and various sections of the SC/ST Act 3 (s). The accused, Brijendra and Surendra, have been arrested and taken into remand.

Persistent lack of accountability, Dalit activist exposes alarming rate of unaddressed desecration cases

The accused are not arrested most of the time. Lawyer and Dalit rights activist Rajat Kalsan, who belongs to Hisar, spoke to The Mooknayak. He said that after the video showing a flex image of Dr. Ambedkar being burnt went viral on social media, various social organizations like Bhim Army, Dr. Ambedkar Sabha, Uklana, and National Alliance for Dalit Human Rights held a demonstration outside the Uklana Police Station. An application for formal FIR registration was submitted by activist Rajesh Dahiya, following which the FIR was registered by the police under various sections of the IPC. He mentioned that he himself spoke to SSP Hisar, who promised swift action. Kalsan revealed that in the last 10 years, there have been hundreds of cases of desecration of Ambedkar statues and images, but arrests have been made in only 1% of the cases. " Recently, in Bhatla village of Hisar, Dr. Ambedkar’s image was damaged twice in a year. We protested against this at Hansi, SP Office Hansi, ADGP Office Hisar, and CM residence Karnal, due to which cases were registered against me for raising the voice of Dalits" Rajat said.

Also Read-