Attack on humanity anywhere is a threat to humanity everywhere
We strongly condemn the bomb blast that occurred at the Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad killing and injuring many devout Muslim brethren. We express our heart felt sympathy to the bereaved families and wish speedy recovery to the injured.
We call upon the citizens of all faiths not to succumb to the vicious plan of the perpetrators of the evil design to cause enmity, disturb communal harmony and bring about destruction and division among us. Let us stand united together in this moment of crisis and demonstrate that all of us, to whichever religion one may belong, are all the children of God and members of the same human family.
While terrorism of all hues in general is condemnable, bomb blasts at the sites of prayer and holy places like the temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras, and attacks on the people who are at prayer anywhere at all are abominable in the sight of God. No religion would approve this. Such incidents are blots on our country which is known world wide for religiosity and spiritual search. The perpetrators of such heinous crimes, to whichever religion or nationality they may belong to, should be brought to book by thorough investigation.
We also appeal to the citizens of Hyderabad in particular and the citizens of our country in general to ensure that no one falls prey and contribute to these fallacious designs by expressing their anger in the form of aggressive and violent attacks on innocents since this will contribute to the objective of the anti-nationals who wants to see the people divide and fight in the name of religion.
A P Federation of Churches
Apna Watan
Arya Samaj
Coalition for Peace and Harmony
COVA
Forum for Better Hyderabad
Inter-faith Forum
International Sikh Center for Inter-faith Relations
Jain Samaj
Jamat-e-Islami Hind
Jana Vignana Vedika
PIPFPD-Andhra Pradesh
Friday, May 25, 2007
http://www.house. gov/franks/ releases. shtml
http://www.house. gov/list/ press/az02_ franks/dalit_ resolution. html
For Immediate Release Contact: Bethany Barker 202-225-4576
Congressman Franks Introduces Dalit Resolution Speaks on the plight of “Untouchables” in India May 2, 2007—Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) today introduced a Concurrent Resolution of which he is the original sponsor, “expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should address the problem of untouchability in India. In accordance with the Resolution, Congressman Franks offered the follow speech on the Floor of the House:
“Mr. Speaker,
“This afternoon, I introduced a resolution calling for the United States to address the ongoing problem of untouchability in India. Last December, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recognized the similarities between untouchability in his country and apartheid in South Africa. It is now time for this Congress to speak out about this ancient and particularly abhorrent form of persecution and segregation – even if it is occurring in a country considered to be one of America’s closest allies. This Congress must urge an end to the social discrimination and injustice faced by the nearly 250 million people known as Dalits and Tribals in India.
“Although the Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms for all Indians, the untouchables continue to face widespread social and caste injustices. Article 17 of the Constitution outlaws untouchability; however, despite numerous laws enacted for the protection and betterment of the Dalits and Tribals, they are still considered outcasts in Indian society and are treated as such.
“At best, untouchability involves social segregation, including separate educational facilities, drinking water, and restaurants. This is a sad and familiar tune to many of us in our own country. At worst, untouchability entails widespread violence against untouchable women – especially in the form of rape with impunity, being targeted for abortions, and comprising the majority of temple prostitutes and women trafficked from India.
“The untouchables are poor, their most basic needs are not fulfilled, and they face great difficulties in accessing employment, education, food and healthcare. Most are among the poorest people in the world, living on less than $1 per day. Moreover, Dalit women are often sold into bonded prostitution and there is increasing religious persecution against untouchables who change their faith. In 2005, USAID stopped funding an organization after it was revealed that they were preventing many of these women from leaving prostitution. In a recent instance, a whole Dalit village was forced to leave their tribal land because they had converted to Christianity in a state that had laws against conversion.
“This resolution is a direct statement by Congress that untouchability is an unacceptable practice in America’s largest trading partner and close ally. We appreciate that Prime Minister Singh and many others have recognized this as a serious social problem that needs to be confronted and we urge the rest of Indian society and American diplomats, aid workers, and businesses working in India to do the same, and work toward the eradication of caste discrimination in India.
“This resolution encourages our government to work with India to find new approaches to an age old problem.
“Moreover, this resolution will ensure that we as a government and as a people in no way encourage or enforce caste discrimination and untouchability through our policies with India or through our foreign direct aid. I urge my colleagues to join with me in calling on the Indian government and the world community to look with compassion upon India’s untouchables and reach out to one of the most oppressed peoples on earth.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”
Congressman Franks is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, and is Ranking Member on the Constitution Subcommittee. ###
1237 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515202-225-4576
http://www.house. gov/list/ press/az02_ franks/dalit_ resolution. html
For Immediate Release Contact: Bethany Barker 202-225-4576
Congressman Franks Introduces Dalit Resolution Speaks on the plight of “Untouchables” in India May 2, 2007—Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) today introduced a Concurrent Resolution of which he is the original sponsor, “expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should address the problem of untouchability in India. In accordance with the Resolution, Congressman Franks offered the follow speech on the Floor of the House:
“Mr. Speaker,
“This afternoon, I introduced a resolution calling for the United States to address the ongoing problem of untouchability in India. Last December, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recognized the similarities between untouchability in his country and apartheid in South Africa. It is now time for this Congress to speak out about this ancient and particularly abhorrent form of persecution and segregation – even if it is occurring in a country considered to be one of America’s closest allies. This Congress must urge an end to the social discrimination and injustice faced by the nearly 250 million people known as Dalits and Tribals in India.
“Although the Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms for all Indians, the untouchables continue to face widespread social and caste injustices. Article 17 of the Constitution outlaws untouchability; however, despite numerous laws enacted for the protection and betterment of the Dalits and Tribals, they are still considered outcasts in Indian society and are treated as such.
“At best, untouchability involves social segregation, including separate educational facilities, drinking water, and restaurants. This is a sad and familiar tune to many of us in our own country. At worst, untouchability entails widespread violence against untouchable women – especially in the form of rape with impunity, being targeted for abortions, and comprising the majority of temple prostitutes and women trafficked from India.
“The untouchables are poor, their most basic needs are not fulfilled, and they face great difficulties in accessing employment, education, food and healthcare. Most are among the poorest people in the world, living on less than $1 per day. Moreover, Dalit women are often sold into bonded prostitution and there is increasing religious persecution against untouchables who change their faith. In 2005, USAID stopped funding an organization after it was revealed that they were preventing many of these women from leaving prostitution. In a recent instance, a whole Dalit village was forced to leave their tribal land because they had converted to Christianity in a state that had laws against conversion.
“This resolution is a direct statement by Congress that untouchability is an unacceptable practice in America’s largest trading partner and close ally. We appreciate that Prime Minister Singh and many others have recognized this as a serious social problem that needs to be confronted and we urge the rest of Indian society and American diplomats, aid workers, and businesses working in India to do the same, and work toward the eradication of caste discrimination in India.
“This resolution encourages our government to work with India to find new approaches to an age old problem.
“Moreover, this resolution will ensure that we as a government and as a people in no way encourage or enforce caste discrimination and untouchability through our policies with India or through our foreign direct aid. I urge my colleagues to join with me in calling on the Indian government and the world community to look with compassion upon India’s untouchables and reach out to one of the most oppressed peoples on earth.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”
Congressman Franks is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, and is Ranking Member on the Constitution Subcommittee. ###
1237 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515202-225-4576
Posted by: "Tarun Udwala" tarun.udwala@gmail.com tarunudgir
Sun May 20, 2007 11:39 am (PST) http://www.tehelka.com/story_main30.asp?filename=Ne260507The_strategy_CS.asp THE STRATEGY PAYS OFFThere is nothing new about the BSP's plan to move beyond its coreDalit base and include other sections of the society. Inclusion wasalways integral to the BSP's ideology and strategy, writes Christophe JaffrelotJaffrelot is a French political scientist and an authority on the riseof the Indian Right and the caste system. He has long been predictingthat Dalit forces will come to head political power structures in the NorthThe success of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh has comeas a surprise to many, but it is the outcome of a well thought-outstrategy harking back to the heyday of the Kanshi Ram-Mayawati duo. Both of them always strove to broaden the BSP's electoral base.Certainly, the BSP's core group has comprised of Dalits. The BSP hasbuilt its cadre by attracting middle-class Dalits who benefited fromthe reservation system. After Brahmins and Kayasthas, Scheduled Casteofficers form the largest number in the UP cadre of the IAS. Yet theseofficers felt frustrated because they were denied important posts. Thefirst bamcef (All India Backward and Minority Communities EmployeesFederation) cadres came from this new, frustrated Dalit elite.The consolidation of this constituency resulted then from the specialtreatment Mayawati granted to the Dalits when she was the chief minister. Her Ambedkar Villages Scheme, for instance, consisted ofallotting special funds for socio-economic development for one year tovillages with a high proportion of SCs. Eventually, 25,434 villagesreceived special treatment in the form of roads, hand pumps, houses, etc, being built in their neighbourhoods.However, the BSP has never been an only-Dalit party. This is evidentfrom the fact that in 1996, according to a survey by the Centre forthe Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), 27 percent of the Kurmis and 24.7 percent of the Koeris voted for it in the Assembly elections. In1999, however, the BSP received only 13 percent of the non-Yadav OBCvote. At the time, the Kurmis had deserted the party — largely becauseof the splits orchestrated by Kurmi leaders such as Raj Bahadur andJung Bahadur who formed, respectively, the BSP (R) and the BahujanSamaj Dal, while another Kurmi leader from the BSP, Sone Lal Patel,created the Apna Dal. But a significant section of the Koeris were supporting it, and Kanshi Ram never gave up his initial attempt atamalgamating Dalits and OBCs under the "Bahujan" label.Not a Dalit-only partySLOW AND STEADY AND RISINGPercentage of votes polled by the BSP In the last six general elections YEAR % OF VALID VOTES1989 2.071991 1.611996 3.641998 4.71999 4.22004 5.3When he lived in Maharashtra, Kanshi Ram was very critical of theRepublican Party of India's (RPI) tendency to work only among the Dalits. For him, the OBCs and the religious minorities were parts ofthe "Bahujan Samaj". The first all-India association he created in1978, interestingly, was called the All India Backward (SC, ST, OBC) and Minority Communities Employees Federation. After establishing theBSP in 1987, he continued to defend the OBCs as much as the Dalits.This is evident from a speech he made during the election campaign forthe Vidhan Sabha of Haryana in 1987 where he admitted that in somerespects the conditions of the SCs were better than those of the OBCsbecause of reservations.After gaining power in UP in 1995, Mayawati announced that OBCs would benefit from 27 percent of the state budget. Similarly, Muslims wereto receive the same grants as SC children, and Mayawati implementedthe recommendations of the UP Backward Classes Commission whichinsisted, in a report dated July 11, 1994, that low caste Muslims should benefit from reservations in the state administration. MulayamSingh Yadav had not been in favour of such a measure because it wasbound to reduce the quotas, which the Hindu OBCs tended to monopolise.Mayawati granted the Muslims 8.44 percent of the 27 percent due to theOBCs. A comparable proportion of the police officers' posts (8percent) were also allegedly reserved for Muslims.The BSP's ambition to be more than just a Dalit party became clear in the 1980s when it nominated non-SC candidates for the UP elections. In1996, only 29 percent of all the candidates nominated by the BSP wereSCs, whereas 34 percent were OBCs and 18 percent Muslims.Interestingly, the BSP's OBC candidates were relatively more successful since there were almost 40 percent OBCs among the partyMLAs and only 28 percent among the SCs. The share of the OBCs was evenmore important among the state party office-bearers — 46 percent in2000. By contrast, only 21 percent of the office bearers were Dalits — comparable almost to the 14 percent upper-caste office-bearers! Amajority of the lower-caste leaders of the BSP come from the MostBackward Castes, and not from larger, dominant Backward castes such asthe Yadavs and the Kurmis, who were important till the mid-1990s but whose role diminished after the Samajwadi Party — a Yadav-dominatedparty — and the BSP developed hostile relations. Yadavs and Dalits'class interests are clearly contradictory, the latter being oftenlandless labourers or cultivators with very small plots, working for Yadav farmers.Kanshi Ram was very critical of the Republican Party of India'stendency to work only among the Dalits. For him, the OBCs and thereligious minorities were parts of the 'bahujan samaj' To cope with the rise of OBCs, and more especially of the party of theYadavs, the BSP developed two strategies. First, it joined hands withthe BJP, which was equally anxious to sandwich Mulayam Singh.Secondly, it decided to focus on the OBCs. As a result, the list of BSP candidates started to include people from small, dominated castessuch as Nishads, Sainis, Shakyas, Baghels, Kashyaps and Rajbhars. TheOBC MLAs and office-bearers of the BSP in UP come today from differentjatis, whereas its SC MLAs are almost all Jatavs. But the former arein larger numbers anyway.A catch-all party?In order to further broaden the social base of the party, the BSPwooed the upper castes too. Since the mid-1990s, the party has made it a point to give tickets to a significant number of upper-castecandidates. In both cases, the percentage of the upper castes inquestion approximates their share in the population: 15-20 percent.This was in tune with Kanshi Ram's assumption that Assemblies should reflect the composition of society. In the 1999 elections, Kanshi Ramnominated candidates in proportion to the caste and community break-upof society: out of 85 candidates in UP, he fielded 17 Muslims (20percent), 20 SCs ( 23.5 percent), 38 OBCs (45 percent) and 10 savarns(12 percent). In 2002, the BSP did the same during the UP Assemblyelections: it gave tickets to 37 Brahmins and 36 Rajputs. In 2004,this strategy started to bring some dividends since 5 percent of Brahmin voters and 4 percent of Rajputs cast their vote in favour ofthe BSP, according to the CSDS survey.The share of the BSP's OBC office-bearers was 46 percent in 2000. Bycontrast, only 21 percent were Dalits — comparable almost to the 14 percent upper caste office-bearersAmong the upper castes, the BSP seems to be particularly keen onwooing the Brahmins. In May 2005, the party coined a new slogan"Brahmin-Dalit bhai-bhai" and Mayawati decided to set up bhaichara samitis in all Assembly seats with Brahmins as presidents and Dalit assecretaries! Mayawati also organised a series of Brahmin Sammelansacross UP.The BSP's current success is the outcome of a constant effort to broaden the base of the party. This may well be a landmark in thepolitical history of India for two reasons. First, it shows thattoday's socio-political coalitions are bound to be led by subalterngroups and not by savarnas anymore. This is good thing for the democratisation of India's democracy. Second, this victory of the BSPis also one of the few defeats of the BJP. If Mayawati sticks to ananti-BJP line of conduct — as she should now that she does not needHindu nationalists to form a government — the upa should turn to herahead of the 2009 general elections so that it can consolidate theanti-communal front and give more substance to its "pro-poor"discourse. How long can the Congress ignore the fact that it cannot go it alone in UP any longer?
Sun May 20, 2007 11:39 am (PST) http://www.tehelka.com/story_main30.asp?filename=Ne260507The_strategy_CS.asp THE STRATEGY PAYS OFFThere is nothing new about the BSP's plan to move beyond its coreDalit base and include other sections of the society. Inclusion wasalways integral to the BSP's ideology and strategy, writes Christophe JaffrelotJaffrelot is a French political scientist and an authority on the riseof the Indian Right and the caste system. He has long been predictingthat Dalit forces will come to head political power structures in the NorthThe success of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh has comeas a surprise to many, but it is the outcome of a well thought-outstrategy harking back to the heyday of the Kanshi Ram-Mayawati duo. Both of them always strove to broaden the BSP's electoral base.Certainly, the BSP's core group has comprised of Dalits. The BSP hasbuilt its cadre by attracting middle-class Dalits who benefited fromthe reservation system. After Brahmins and Kayasthas, Scheduled Casteofficers form the largest number in the UP cadre of the IAS. Yet theseofficers felt frustrated because they were denied important posts. Thefirst bamcef (All India Backward and Minority Communities EmployeesFederation) cadres came from this new, frustrated Dalit elite.The consolidation of this constituency resulted then from the specialtreatment Mayawati granted to the Dalits when she was the chief minister. Her Ambedkar Villages Scheme, for instance, consisted ofallotting special funds for socio-economic development for one year tovillages with a high proportion of SCs. Eventually, 25,434 villagesreceived special treatment in the form of roads, hand pumps, houses, etc, being built in their neighbourhoods.However, the BSP has never been an only-Dalit party. This is evidentfrom the fact that in 1996, according to a survey by the Centre forthe Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), 27 percent of the Kurmis and 24.7 percent of the Koeris voted for it in the Assembly elections. In1999, however, the BSP received only 13 percent of the non-Yadav OBCvote. At the time, the Kurmis had deserted the party — largely becauseof the splits orchestrated by Kurmi leaders such as Raj Bahadur andJung Bahadur who formed, respectively, the BSP (R) and the BahujanSamaj Dal, while another Kurmi leader from the BSP, Sone Lal Patel,created the Apna Dal. But a significant section of the Koeris were supporting it, and Kanshi Ram never gave up his initial attempt atamalgamating Dalits and OBCs under the "Bahujan" label.Not a Dalit-only partySLOW AND STEADY AND RISINGPercentage of votes polled by the BSP In the last six general elections YEAR % OF VALID VOTES1989 2.071991 1.611996 3.641998 4.71999 4.22004 5.3When he lived in Maharashtra, Kanshi Ram was very critical of theRepublican Party of India's (RPI) tendency to work only among the Dalits. For him, the OBCs and the religious minorities were parts ofthe "Bahujan Samaj". The first all-India association he created in1978, interestingly, was called the All India Backward (SC, ST, OBC) and Minority Communities Employees Federation. After establishing theBSP in 1987, he continued to defend the OBCs as much as the Dalits.This is evident from a speech he made during the election campaign forthe Vidhan Sabha of Haryana in 1987 where he admitted that in somerespects the conditions of the SCs were better than those of the OBCsbecause of reservations.After gaining power in UP in 1995, Mayawati announced that OBCs would benefit from 27 percent of the state budget. Similarly, Muslims wereto receive the same grants as SC children, and Mayawati implementedthe recommendations of the UP Backward Classes Commission whichinsisted, in a report dated July 11, 1994, that low caste Muslims should benefit from reservations in the state administration. MulayamSingh Yadav had not been in favour of such a measure because it wasbound to reduce the quotas, which the Hindu OBCs tended to monopolise.Mayawati granted the Muslims 8.44 percent of the 27 percent due to theOBCs. A comparable proportion of the police officers' posts (8percent) were also allegedly reserved for Muslims.The BSP's ambition to be more than just a Dalit party became clear in the 1980s when it nominated non-SC candidates for the UP elections. In1996, only 29 percent of all the candidates nominated by the BSP wereSCs, whereas 34 percent were OBCs and 18 percent Muslims.Interestingly, the BSP's OBC candidates were relatively more successful since there were almost 40 percent OBCs among the partyMLAs and only 28 percent among the SCs. The share of the OBCs was evenmore important among the state party office-bearers — 46 percent in2000. By contrast, only 21 percent of the office bearers were Dalits — comparable almost to the 14 percent upper-caste office-bearers! Amajority of the lower-caste leaders of the BSP come from the MostBackward Castes, and not from larger, dominant Backward castes such asthe Yadavs and the Kurmis, who were important till the mid-1990s but whose role diminished after the Samajwadi Party — a Yadav-dominatedparty — and the BSP developed hostile relations. Yadavs and Dalits'class interests are clearly contradictory, the latter being oftenlandless labourers or cultivators with very small plots, working for Yadav farmers.Kanshi Ram was very critical of the Republican Party of India'stendency to work only among the Dalits. For him, the OBCs and thereligious minorities were parts of the 'bahujan samaj' To cope with the rise of OBCs, and more especially of the party of theYadavs, the BSP developed two strategies. First, it joined hands withthe BJP, which was equally anxious to sandwich Mulayam Singh.Secondly, it decided to focus on the OBCs. As a result, the list of BSP candidates started to include people from small, dominated castessuch as Nishads, Sainis, Shakyas, Baghels, Kashyaps and Rajbhars. TheOBC MLAs and office-bearers of the BSP in UP come today from differentjatis, whereas its SC MLAs are almost all Jatavs. But the former arein larger numbers anyway.A catch-all party?In order to further broaden the social base of the party, the BSPwooed the upper castes too. Since the mid-1990s, the party has made it a point to give tickets to a significant number of upper-castecandidates. In both cases, the percentage of the upper castes inquestion approximates their share in the population: 15-20 percent.This was in tune with Kanshi Ram's assumption that Assemblies should reflect the composition of society. In the 1999 elections, Kanshi Ramnominated candidates in proportion to the caste and community break-upof society: out of 85 candidates in UP, he fielded 17 Muslims (20percent), 20 SCs ( 23.5 percent), 38 OBCs (45 percent) and 10 savarns(12 percent). In 2002, the BSP did the same during the UP Assemblyelections: it gave tickets to 37 Brahmins and 36 Rajputs. In 2004,this strategy started to bring some dividends since 5 percent of Brahmin voters and 4 percent of Rajputs cast their vote in favour ofthe BSP, according to the CSDS survey.The share of the BSP's OBC office-bearers was 46 percent in 2000. Bycontrast, only 21 percent were Dalits — comparable almost to the 14 percent upper caste office-bearersAmong the upper castes, the BSP seems to be particularly keen onwooing the Brahmins. In May 2005, the party coined a new slogan"Brahmin-Dalit bhai-bhai" and Mayawati decided to set up bhaichara samitis in all Assembly seats with Brahmins as presidents and Dalit assecretaries! Mayawati also organised a series of Brahmin Sammelansacross UP.The BSP's current success is the outcome of a constant effort to broaden the base of the party. This may well be a landmark in thepolitical history of India for two reasons. First, it shows thattoday's socio-political coalitions are bound to be led by subalterngroups and not by savarnas anymore. This is good thing for the democratisation of India's democracy. Second, this victory of the BSPis also one of the few defeats of the BJP. If Mayawati sticks to ananti-BJP line of conduct — as she should now that she does not needHindu nationalists to form a government — the upa should turn to herahead of the 2009 general elections so that it can consolidate theanti-communal front and give more substance to its "pro-poor"discourse. How long can the Congress ignore the fact that it cannot go it alone in UP any longer?
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Join Hands with “Dalita Bahujana Samara Bheri”
Dalit Bahujan Front & Dalit Bahujan Sramik Union jointly organising with Co-opetation of various Dalit, Ambedkar organizations and Sanghas to village level campaign throughout Andhra Pradesh in the name of “Dalita Bahujana Samara Bheri” from 2nd April to 14th April 2007.
The main focus of the campaign to demanding Government should take action against the Untouchbility Practice and to prevent atrocities, and also we are once again demanding compressive development of Dalits in all aspects to allocation of Budget and distribution of Land as per their demanding share.
On the occasion of 5th April the event of Babu Jagjeevan Ram Centenary Birthday celebrations we are organising with a big way.
From 2nd onwards 12th April we are re-visiting various pending issues from village to village with a Massive programmes through Padayatra, Cycle Rallies and Community Gatherings . 13th April organizing Dalit Darbars at District Head Quarters to bring in to the notice of District Officials with various Dalit Bahujan Issues which are noticed at village level.
On the occation of 14th April Birth Day Celebrations of Babasaheb Ambedkar. We requesting all Dalit Organisations raise a question to the public representatives that they have no right to garland the Babasaheb statues due to their irresponsible attitude towards Dalit Issues.
We are kindly requesting to participate and co-operate the campaign.
Thanking you,
Regards,
Korivi Vinaya Kumar G. Sudhakar
State President State Gen.Secretary
Dalit Bahujan Front & Dalit Bahujan Sramik Union jointly organising with Co-opetation of various Dalit, Ambedkar organizations and Sanghas to village level campaign throughout Andhra Pradesh in the name of “Dalita Bahujana Samara Bheri” from 2nd April to 14th April 2007.
The main focus of the campaign to demanding Government should take action against the Untouchbility Practice and to prevent atrocities, and also we are once again demanding compressive development of Dalits in all aspects to allocation of Budget and distribution of Land as per their demanding share.
On the occasion of 5th April the event of Babu Jagjeevan Ram Centenary Birthday celebrations we are organising with a big way.
From 2nd onwards 12th April we are re-visiting various pending issues from village to village with a Massive programmes through Padayatra, Cycle Rallies and Community Gatherings . 13th April organizing Dalit Darbars at District Head Quarters to bring in to the notice of District Officials with various Dalit Bahujan Issues which are noticed at village level.
On the occation of 14th April Birth Day Celebrations of Babasaheb Ambedkar. We requesting all Dalit Organisations raise a question to the public representatives that they have no right to garland the Babasaheb statues due to their irresponsible attitude towards Dalit Issues.
We are kindly requesting to participate and co-operate the campaign.
Thanking you,
Regards,
Korivi Vinaya Kumar G. Sudhakar
State President State Gen.Secretary
dalith bahujan agraha pradarsana
Dalits demand share in Land and Budget: Dalit Bahujan Front
Report of Chalo Assembly organized by DBF, A.P. on 13-03-2007
Dalit Bahujan Front (DBF) has demanded the Andhra Pradesh State Government to give the legitimate share of A.P. Dalits in land and budget. To pressurize the A.P. Government DBF has organised a massive rally in the state capital on 13-03-2007. People allover the state reached state capital on 13th morning itself. They came by every means of transport i.e. by trains, buses, cars and hired Lorrie’s/ vehicles. The rally started at 12 noon from Ambedkar Bhavan.
Noted civil rights leader, dalit scholar and president of Republican Party of India(RPI) Mr. Bojja Tarakam waved the DBF Flag and started off the “Anger and Anguish Rally” of Dalit Bahujans.Addressing the rally he gave call to all Dalitbahujans to unite and enter into the state assembly on their own to solve their socio-economic problems. He reminded the people about the famous saying of Babasaheb Dr.B.R.Ambedkar that political power is the master key to resolve all problems of Dalitbahujans. Thousands of Dalits from allover the state took a large procession with their demands raising slogans against the discriminative policies of the congress government against dalits. The participants with the blue flags in their hands and with drum beatings marched under the hot sun and culminated into a large public meeting at Indira Park.
Meanwhile in the afternoon a 5 member delegation team led by the DBF state president Mr. Korivi Vinaya Kumar met Mr. Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy, the Chief Minister (CM) of A.P. in the State Legislative Assembly in his chamber and submitted the memorandum on behalf of dalitbahujans. Dr. G. Vijaya Rama Rao, Floor leader of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) accompanied the team. The delegation explained the CM that for the last 2 months DBF has organized Dalit Durbars nearly in 70 Assembly Constituencies and collected thousands of memorandums from poor / needy Dalitbahujans and categorized them in to 5 major areas of concern. Land being the most important element for the comprehensive development of Dalits, should be distributed to all landless poor people i.e. 5 acres to each family in the state. At present there are 1.20 crore acres of land in the possession of the government readily for distribution, the delegation reminded the CM. It also requested the CM to constitute an independent LAND COMMISSION to look into the matters of land Re- Survey of total land and to distribute. The delegation urged him to extend the time limit of NABARD’s RIDF-9 funding upto 2008, March for the development of assigned lands. It also requested the CM to allocate 30% of the total ayicut (irrigated) land which would come out of 1 crore acres of irrigated land after the implementation of the prestigious Rs.100000 Crore jalayagnam project by the congress government. The second demand is about budgetary share of Dalits and Adivasis according to the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and the government should allocate 22.8% share in State plan budget and according to these plans the dalits should get Rs.5022 crores and Rs.2046 crores to the adivasis respectively for the financial year 2007-08 and should constitute separate nodal agencies to channel these funds, the delegation requested the CM. It demanded the government to reconstitute the A.P.State S.C., S.T. Commission and to empower it with judicial powers and also to take necessary steps to prepare chargesheets in 25 thousand pending SC, ST atrocity cases. It requested the CM to take necessary steps to protect the interests of SC,ST,BC students residing in 4765 social welfare hostels in the state and to immediately release Rs.274 crore pending scholarships to the dalitbahujan students. The delegation also urged the CM to issue orders to all state authorities to organize meetings every week and to observe “Civil Rights Day” on 30th of every month in all villages to eradicate untouchability, seperate glass system, forced and bonded labour, Jogini/pothuraju (Hindu religious prostitution systems), Beliefs in Banamati (witchcraft), manual scavenging and to educate the villagers about the provisions of PCR Act, SC, ST (POA) Act according to the G.O.M.S. (S.W.) Nos. 105, 128, 129 which were issued in earlier political regime. The fifth demand consists of filling the 50,000 government backlog posts of SCs and STs which were vacant; the DBF delegation explained the CM. It also demanded the government to provide monthly allowance of Rs.1000 to the unemployed youth, old age people, widows, physically challenged persons / separate finance corporations to occupational communities, to implement reservations in promotions, a resolution in the A.P.Legislative Assembly on Reservations in private sector and to amend the A.P.R.E.G.S (Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) to provide 100 work days in a year to each and every labour including the poor residing in town/municipal /all mandal areas in the state. The CM patiently heard the demands and assured the DBF team that his government will fulfill all the demands.
The public meeting started at 1’O clock and Mr. K. Vinaya Kumar presided over the meeting and invited the speakers onto the Dias. Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) M.L.A.s Mr. T.Harish Rao, Dr.Laxma Reddy, Padma Devendar, CPI(M) State secretary Mr.B.V.Raghavulu, CPI State secretary Dr.K.Narayana, Kula Vivaksha Porata Samithi(KVPS) state secretary Mr. John Wesley, Centre for Dalit Studies (CDS) coordinator Mr.Mallepalli Laxmaiah, Dalit Bahujana Shramika Union(DBSU) state general secretary Mr.G.Sudhakar, Dalit Bahujana Mahila Samakhya(DBMS) state convenor Ms. Chinta Pramila, Jogini Vyavastha Vyatireka Porata Sanghatana (JVVPS) convenor Ms. Grace Nirmala, Dalit Stree Shakthi(DSS) convenor Gaddam Jhansi, Manjira Dalit Seva Samithi convenor Mr.P.Shankar, Ambedkar Vidyardhi Samakhya president Bandi Bhikshapathi, Rayalaseema Dalit Vedika convenor Reddanna, Dalit Bahujan Employees Front convenor Jeldi Ismael Babu, DBF State Committee leaders Alladi Devakumar, Melam Bhagya Rao, Perumaallu Devudu, K.Kusuma Kumari were invited onto the Dias.
Mr.Vinaya Kumar explained the gathering masses about the essence of the memorandum and announced that DBF will conduct a campaign for the next two years and will make these demands an Election agenda in 2009 State Assembly elections. The speakers stressed the need for the unity of SC,ST,BC,Minorities (Dalit Bahujans) and advised them to wage unified political struggles to achieve dalit bahuajan demands. They critisised the attitude of government towards the Dalits. Troops of Dalit Bahujana Kala Mandali performed cultural action. The meeting concluded at 4 P.M. Nearly 5,000 people of SC,ST,BC,Minorities allover the state attended the rally, public meeting and made it a grand success. The meeting drew the attention of both electronic / print media and the media widely publicized the entire event. The media and widely published the whole event. Food and water was served to the 5,000 people in the afternoon and they were also provided with dinner while returning to their homes.
Report by
State Secretariat
Dalit Bahujan Front
Off: #1-183/40/68/C-7,1st Floor, Opp. Municipal Play Ground, Bank Colony,
Gandhi Nagar, Hyderabad-500 080. A.P. India. Ph: 040 - 27546996 (Fax)
e-mail : korivi_vinay@yahoo.com, korivivinay@gmail.com
Report of Chalo Assembly organized by DBF, A.P. on 13-03-2007
Dalit Bahujan Front (DBF) has demanded the Andhra Pradesh State Government to give the legitimate share of A.P. Dalits in land and budget. To pressurize the A.P. Government DBF has organised a massive rally in the state capital on 13-03-2007. People allover the state reached state capital on 13th morning itself. They came by every means of transport i.e. by trains, buses, cars and hired Lorrie’s/ vehicles. The rally started at 12 noon from Ambedkar Bhavan.
Noted civil rights leader, dalit scholar and president of Republican Party of India(RPI) Mr. Bojja Tarakam waved the DBF Flag and started off the “Anger and Anguish Rally” of Dalit Bahujans.Addressing the rally he gave call to all Dalitbahujans to unite and enter into the state assembly on their own to solve their socio-economic problems. He reminded the people about the famous saying of Babasaheb Dr.B.R.Ambedkar that political power is the master key to resolve all problems of Dalitbahujans. Thousands of Dalits from allover the state took a large procession with their demands raising slogans against the discriminative policies of the congress government against dalits. The participants with the blue flags in their hands and with drum beatings marched under the hot sun and culminated into a large public meeting at Indira Park.
Meanwhile in the afternoon a 5 member delegation team led by the DBF state president Mr. Korivi Vinaya Kumar met Mr. Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy, the Chief Minister (CM) of A.P. in the State Legislative Assembly in his chamber and submitted the memorandum on behalf of dalitbahujans. Dr. G. Vijaya Rama Rao, Floor leader of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) accompanied the team. The delegation explained the CM that for the last 2 months DBF has organized Dalit Durbars nearly in 70 Assembly Constituencies and collected thousands of memorandums from poor / needy Dalitbahujans and categorized them in to 5 major areas of concern. Land being the most important element for the comprehensive development of Dalits, should be distributed to all landless poor people i.e. 5 acres to each family in the state. At present there are 1.20 crore acres of land in the possession of the government readily for distribution, the delegation reminded the CM. It also requested the CM to constitute an independent LAND COMMISSION to look into the matters of land Re- Survey of total land and to distribute. The delegation urged him to extend the time limit of NABARD’s RIDF-9 funding upto 2008, March for the development of assigned lands. It also requested the CM to allocate 30% of the total ayicut (irrigated) land which would come out of 1 crore acres of irrigated land after the implementation of the prestigious Rs.100000 Crore jalayagnam project by the congress government. The second demand is about budgetary share of Dalits and Adivasis according to the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and the government should allocate 22.8% share in State plan budget and according to these plans the dalits should get Rs.5022 crores and Rs.2046 crores to the adivasis respectively for the financial year 2007-08 and should constitute separate nodal agencies to channel these funds, the delegation requested the CM. It demanded the government to reconstitute the A.P.State S.C., S.T. Commission and to empower it with judicial powers and also to take necessary steps to prepare chargesheets in 25 thousand pending SC, ST atrocity cases. It requested the CM to take necessary steps to protect the interests of SC,ST,BC students residing in 4765 social welfare hostels in the state and to immediately release Rs.274 crore pending scholarships to the dalitbahujan students. The delegation also urged the CM to issue orders to all state authorities to organize meetings every week and to observe “Civil Rights Day” on 30th of every month in all villages to eradicate untouchability, seperate glass system, forced and bonded labour, Jogini/pothuraju (Hindu religious prostitution systems), Beliefs in Banamati (witchcraft), manual scavenging and to educate the villagers about the provisions of PCR Act, SC, ST (POA) Act according to the G.O.M.S. (S.W.) Nos. 105, 128, 129 which were issued in earlier political regime. The fifth demand consists of filling the 50,000 government backlog posts of SCs and STs which were vacant; the DBF delegation explained the CM. It also demanded the government to provide monthly allowance of Rs.1000 to the unemployed youth, old age people, widows, physically challenged persons / separate finance corporations to occupational communities, to implement reservations in promotions, a resolution in the A.P.Legislative Assembly on Reservations in private sector and to amend the A.P.R.E.G.S (Andhra Pradesh Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) to provide 100 work days in a year to each and every labour including the poor residing in town/municipal /all mandal areas in the state. The CM patiently heard the demands and assured the DBF team that his government will fulfill all the demands.
The public meeting started at 1’O clock and Mr. K. Vinaya Kumar presided over the meeting and invited the speakers onto the Dias. Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) M.L.A.s Mr. T.Harish Rao, Dr.Laxma Reddy, Padma Devendar, CPI(M) State secretary Mr.B.V.Raghavulu, CPI State secretary Dr.K.Narayana, Kula Vivaksha Porata Samithi(KVPS) state secretary Mr. John Wesley, Centre for Dalit Studies (CDS) coordinator Mr.Mallepalli Laxmaiah, Dalit Bahujana Shramika Union(DBSU) state general secretary Mr.G.Sudhakar, Dalit Bahujana Mahila Samakhya(DBMS) state convenor Ms. Chinta Pramila, Jogini Vyavastha Vyatireka Porata Sanghatana (JVVPS) convenor Ms. Grace Nirmala, Dalit Stree Shakthi(DSS) convenor Gaddam Jhansi, Manjira Dalit Seva Samithi convenor Mr.P.Shankar, Ambedkar Vidyardhi Samakhya president Bandi Bhikshapathi, Rayalaseema Dalit Vedika convenor Reddanna, Dalit Bahujan Employees Front convenor Jeldi Ismael Babu, DBF State Committee leaders Alladi Devakumar, Melam Bhagya Rao, Perumaallu Devudu, K.Kusuma Kumari were invited onto the Dias.
Mr.Vinaya Kumar explained the gathering masses about the essence of the memorandum and announced that DBF will conduct a campaign for the next two years and will make these demands an Election agenda in 2009 State Assembly elections. The speakers stressed the need for the unity of SC,ST,BC,Minorities (Dalit Bahujans) and advised them to wage unified political struggles to achieve dalit bahuajan demands. They critisised the attitude of government towards the Dalits. Troops of Dalit Bahujana Kala Mandali performed cultural action. The meeting concluded at 4 P.M. Nearly 5,000 people of SC,ST,BC,Minorities allover the state attended the rally, public meeting and made it a grand success. The meeting drew the attention of both electronic / print media and the media widely publicized the entire event. The media and widely published the whole event. Food and water was served to the 5,000 people in the afternoon and they were also provided with dinner while returning to their homes.
Report by
State Secretariat
Dalit Bahujan Front
Off: #1-183/40/68/C-7,1st Floor, Opp. Municipal Play Ground, Bank Colony,
Gandhi Nagar, Hyderabad-500 080. A.P. India. Ph: 040 - 27546996 (Fax)
e-mail : korivi_vinay@yahoo.com, korivivinay@gmail.com
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