Dalit bodies plan show of strength at Bhima-Koregaon

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, December 22

Dalit organisations from across the country are planning a show of strength on New Year's Day at Bhima-Koregaon, a year after attacks on members of the community sparked off riots in different parts of Maharashtra.

Prominent Dalit organisations have come together under the banner of the 'Bhima Koregaon Vijay Stambh Shaurya Din Samanway Samiti' to mobilise people from different parts of Maharashtra and other parts of the country for the event. 

Every year, a large number of Dalits gather at Bhima-Koregaon on New Year's Eve to mark the anniversary of the defeat of the Marathas in the hands of the British. Members of the Mahar community were part of the British troops that fought the Marathas and the names of several of them are mentioned in the obelisk erected at Bhima-Koregaon near Pune.

"We have asked the government provide enough facilities for the lakhs of people who are expected to arrive for the 201st anniversary of Bhima-Koregaon," said Rahul Dambale, president, Bhartiya Republican Yuva Morcha who is co-ordinating the event. According to him more than 10 lakh people are expected to arrive for the event.

Dambale said the district administration has so far been tardy in making arrangements for the throngs who are expected to arrive. "Work on accommodation and sanitation facilities are not yet ready," Dambale added.

Like last year's Elgar Parishad event where fiery speeches were made, prominent Dalit leaders and activists are expected to hit out the BJP governments in Maharashtra and the Centre this time as well. "No one can stop us from speaking at the anniversary of Bhima-Koregaon," Bahujan Bharipa Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar told reporters here.

Ambedkar was associated with the Elgar Parishad last year and spearheaded a state-wide bandh in January to protest the attacks on Dalits.

Already Dalit organisations have protested, what they say, is kid glove treatment to right-wing activists like Sambhaji Bhide who are accused of provoking last year's violence.

Meanwhile, the state government has increased security after Chandrashekar Azad alias Ravan, the chief of the Bhim Army, has announced that he would be attending the event with his followers. With the state government not yet giving permission for a rally by the Bhim Army, the body has threatened to move the courts.