Uproar over naked protest by Dalit-tribal youth in Chhattisgarh, 29 arrested

One of the protesters said that they had protested naked to highlight an important issue.

Vishnukant Tiwari

In Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday, July 19, the session of the Legislative Assembly was full of uproar. During this protest, sloganeering took place and opposition MLAs were also suspended. A political controversy has erupted on Tuesday, July 18, after two dozen tribal-Dalit youths stripped off their clothes and protested on the first day of the Chhattisgarh Assembly session, demanding action against holders of fake caste certificates.

The protesters tried to reach the state assembly but the Raipur police took them into custody midway. More than 29 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

According to the press note issued by the police, after examining the mobile phones of the arrested accused, the obscene video made by them naked was also viral in various social media groups. Police arrested 29 accused and sent them to jail after registering a case under crime number 213/23 section 146 (unlawful assembly causing violence), 147, 353, 332, 294 and 67 (A) IT Act.

A group of youths was protesting in Chhattisgarh against the allegation of issuing fake caste certificates to people working in the state government.

Demand for action against fake caste certificate holders

Protest leader Vinay Kaushal told the media that he has spoken to the authorities on the fake certificate issue. He claimed that more than 250 people have taken undue advantage by making fake caste certificates and are in government jobs.

He further said that

264 people are in government jobs on the basis of fake caste certificates. We had fasted unto death on 16th May but the government and the administration did nothing in this matter. We only want action to be taken against those people who have taken advantage of using fake caste certificates.

Another protester said that they had protested naked to attract attention, to highlight the issue of fake caste certificates to the public and the government.

The incident caught the nation’s attention as passers-by made purported videos of people marching naked on the road and chanting slogans and circulated on social media.

‘Jungle Raj’: BJP attacks Congress government

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeted the ruling Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government and questioned its failure to take action against holders of fake caste certificates.

In a tweet from the Twitter handle of the Chhattisgarh BJP, it was said that the BJP Legislature Party marched to the Raj Bhavan on the naked protest against the Congress government in the state. Everyone said in one voice that the Congress government, which has been torturing the public, has lost public opinion. This Bhupesh government is only getting Chhattisgarh stigmatised.

Talking to the media, former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and BJP leader Raman Singh said that

Dalit and tribal youth had lost all hope of getting justice from this government. This government did not show sensitivity to the demands of the youth, who were requesting action against holders of fake caste certificates.

Raman Singh wrote in his tweet that by killing the rights of the people of the state, the only aim of this government has been to fill the Congress bag. Dau Bhupesh Baghel did not show sensitivity even after forcing SC-ST youths to perform naked. On the contrary, by taking the protesters into custody, they have once again presented the example of their Jungle Raj.

In an order letter dated November 25, 2020, the General Administration Department of Chhattisgarh said that it has identified 267 cases of fake caste certificates between 2000-2020.

In response to the BJP’s allegations, the Congress party said that action has been taken in 269 cases and 40 people have been dismissed from service, while in 90 cases the dismissal has been stayed by the court and in 16 cases people have either died. passed or retired.

Courtesy: Scroll

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