Jignesh Mevani, accused of delivering an inflammatory speech, says 'Ambedkarite' PM Narendra Modi must clarify whether Dalits have the right to hold peaceful rallies
Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani denies giving an inflammatory speech. Pic/PTI
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Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up on Dalit targeting. Mevani said, "After incidents of Una, Saharanpur, the Rohith Vemula episode or Bhima-Koregaon violence; time has come when Prime Minister Narendra Modi should open his mouth. Social justice must be ensured in this country and targeting of Dalits should be stopped."
Why is Modi silent?
"Why is PM Modi, who is claiming to be an Ambedkarite, silent? He must clarify his position on whether Dalits have the right to hold peaceful rallies," Mevani said. "Everybody in this country must rise above caste and religion and become a human. The country's prime minister should also understand this, and it is expected of him to talk about constitutional values and not walk on the path of
Manusmriti," the Dalit leader said. Mevani and Assam peasant leader Akhil Gogoi will hold a 'social justice' rally to highlight various issues of Dalits, educational rights, employment, livelihood and gender justice. He also termed registration of an FIR against him in Pune for delivering an inflammatory speech as a childish act of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP.
Was not in Bhima-Koregaon
"I didn't go to Bhima-Koregaon, didn't give an inflammatory speech. I didn't take part in the bandh call. Despite this, a childish attempt to tarnish my image by lodging FIR against me; it won't yield any results," he said. An FIR was registered against Mevani and Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid in Pune on Thursday under sections 153(A), 505 and 117 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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