‘Peace meetings’ by RSS-BJP in Saharanpur a ‘hoax’

While Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have been stopped by the police from visiting Saharanpur, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are moving freely in the district and holding meetings attended by Thakurs alone. Calling them ‘peace meetings’ was a hoax and designed to hoodwink the media and people, Dalits told National Herald from Saharanpur.

Fake news about peace meetings?

Amidst the publicity of the BJP and the RSS trying to build bridges between Thakurs and Dalits in Saharanpur, the Pradhan of Chandpur Panchayat, Mahendra Singh, told NH on Monday, “Dalits continue to live in fear three weeks after violent clashes in Shabbirpur” and denied any knowledge of peace meetings.

“Two days ago, Deoband MLA Brijesh Singh did visit the area but he only called on Thakurs. He did not even meet us. BJP-RSS abhi bhi Biradarana par ruke huye hain (RSS-BJP are still fixated with upper castes).”

He claimed that Dalits of Chandpur had taken the initiative for a reconciliation. But, although, a peace meeting was held on May 21, the situation continued to be tense and a day later Dalits were again attacked by Thakurs on May 23. The response from Thakurs, he complained, was hardly positive.

No peace meeting has been held in or around Shabbirpur village during the last week, claimed the Dalits.

The Pradhan of Shabbirpur Panchayat, Shivkumar, is on the run since clashes broke out on May 5. Though he is said to have gone to Dehradun to be with his son, several Dalits told National Herald, “He is absconding to avoid legal/police action. Thakurs named him in the FIR lodged in Sumit Rana murder case.”

“While Shivkumar is absconding, 70% of Dalits of the village have not yet returned to their homes. Who then held meetings and with whom?” questioned leader of the Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (ABSS) Randhir Singh over the phone.

Singh, too, claimed that no peace meeting in Saharanpur town had been held in the last five days. Randhir Singh, who works in the district court, informed that Thakur leader Kan Singh Rana did hold a meeting which was hardly a “peace meeting.” Rana, who is state president of Uttar Pradesh Kshatriya Mahasabha, is known for his fiery speeches against Dalits in the area.