Guilty of Gohana

As always, Shri Gatade chooses good topics. The organized violence against dalits is despicable and the lack of support from the police outrageous. I am glad to hear a CBI enquiry has begun and that there is national attention focussed on obtaining justice for the victims of this violence.

I do disagree with statements like: `` How come dalits could `compete` with the varna people in matters of housing. Will it not affect the edicts of the Manusmriti.``. On what basis does Gatade make statements like these?

Nothing I have read suggests that any of it had to do with with such ideas. There was a dispute (a youth from the jat community was murdered), it was well known there would be retaliation and the police chose to do NOTHING. The real issue is lack of training of police and lack of dalit participation in police. It would be good if we could actually focus on these questions.

Just screaming manusmriti, manusmriti does not make for an analysis of the situation. Here by the way is a press release from the dreaded fascist RSS:

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RSS organ blasts Hindu hypocrisy, arrogance for Gohana
NEW DELHI, SEP 4 (PTI)
In an unusually hard talk, the RSS has blamed ``Hindu hypocrisy and upper caste arrogance`` for the recent arson in Gohana town of Haryana in which several Dalit houses were set ablaze and even indirectly attacked BJP leaders for not applying the ``soothing balm`` on the wounds of the victims.

``Even if we try to view the incident in Gohana, removed from the political angle, it reflects the hypocrisy of the Hindu society and the cheapness and arrogance, which goes against national interests, of the so-called upper castes,`` Tarun Vijay, Editor of RSS mouthpiece `Panchjanya` said in a write-up in the latest issue.

Maintaining that the incident was ``neither surprising nor new,`` he said the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan were victims of ``deep rooted hatred and neglect``.

``The so-called Upper Castes cover up all their misdeeds overtly and covertly through their fellow clansmen in the administration and media. Irrespective of parties and their colours, they are all alike when it comes to atrocities on the deprived sections,`` it said.

Referring to the BJP`s September one decision to send a ``fact-finding team`` to Gohana, he said ``the incident took place on August 27. The houses were set on fire on August 31. The news dominated every newspaper and television channel but till now, we have not heard of a single important Hindu political or social leader having visited the area and applied balm on the wounds of the deprived sections.

Theres no point writing replies to this article. You won`t get any further communication with the author. He will be Missing In Action during the time the article will be on FP. I guess someone else has posted this article on his behalf.

``The antidemocratic, anti dalit, anti gender role of the various caste panchayats has also come to the fore in no uncertain terms which did not mind take law in their hands and teach a `lesson` to the dalits in typical medieval fashion. ``

Great work. You have rightly traced the genesis of all this to the anti-democratic caste panchayat system which has infact turned itself into a parallel state, almost like aMOB. There was a very good report on Channel 7 on these panchayats- rightly titled ``Baap Ka Raaj`` and the manner in which it is turning into a feudal group with its own parallel police to terrorize and threaten those who do not acept their dictat..............this shows that India has a long way to ensure that democratic norms of working take root in the Northern States like Haryana or UP..............but thankfully those affected have also turned towards the courts for ensuring that their rights are not trampled..and they have obtained orders in their favour..............the most important issue now is to reform the administration and ensure that they do not work in a partisan manner in the performance of their state duties.........

#1
Dear Ursftruly,

When did you change your relegion and became christian. This guilt complesx is so christian.

All the best my friend.

Actually this has nothing to do with Pakistan or Islam for a change.

I am not well aware of these details – but I would not be doubtful that this incident did happen as described here – India is highly fractious along both religious and caste fault-lines and such incidents are anything but new. The fact is that we live in an age where these can be highlighted and can gain adverse publicity – which gives reason to hope that over time, these will represent more exceptions rather than acceptable norms of behavior. The underlying cause – lust for power, will perhaps remain over the long haul – until people start respecting others, and life – on all sides!

I dont know what happened at gohana, but I know for sure that somehow it is Pakistan`s and Islam`s fault.