Despite permission denied by the Delhi Police, the Yuva Shakti Dal including the Bhim Army staged a massive protest on Sunday at Jantar Mantar in against alleged atrocities on Dalits in Saharanpur.
Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar, who is wanted by Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly trying to instigate people, was present at the event. Gujarat youth Dalit leader Jignesh Mawani and former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar were among those who joined the protesters.
The protesters have put forth three demands: A judicial probe into the violence May 5 violence; compensation for the Dalits whose homes were torched in the clashes; action against Thakurs involved in the rally commemorating Maharana Pratap and the violence that ensued on May 5.
Earlier, on Saturday, the Delhi Police denied permission to Dalit unions to hold a protest at the venue. “The capacity of Jantar Mantar is 5,000, and there are already several protests going on there… The permission for this demonstration has been denied,” BK Singh, DCP (New Delhi), had said.
However, members of the Bhim Army announced that they will go ahead with the plan as their supporters had already reached Delhi and that more were on their way to the venue.
The Saharanpur issue has taken on a political angle in recent days with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati just yesterday slamming the Yogi Adityanath Uttar Pradesh government, which she said has failed to ensure peace.
The city of Saharanpur has seen simmering tensions ever since the May 5 clashes between members of the Dalit community and Thakurs.
The clashes erupted after some Dalit residents in Shabbirpur raised objections over a Thakur procession that was playing loud music.
