Dalits should unite to oppose atrocities: Harsha Kumar

- Demands that the authorities concerned take action against those involved in atrocities on Dalits
- Charges police of weakening the cases pertaining to the atrocities on Dalits
- Alleges that the State government is hell bent upon suppressing the voice of poor and Dalits

Rajamahendravaram: Former Amalapuram MP G V Harsha Kumar has said that Dalits should unite to oppose the growing number of atrocities on them.

Addressing a huge rally, ‘Chalo Vemagiri’ at Vemagiri High School Grounds here on Saturday night, he said it was time the State government took up the matter seriously and resolved the problems of Dalits.

Pointing out that justice had not been done in any of the cases of atrocities on Dalits in recent times, Harsha Kumar threatened to stage protests against the indifferent attitude of the State government and added that if there was no response even after the agitation the “consequences would be severe.”

He said the government machinery has not taken any action against the atrocities on Dalits. He alleged that the police were trying to dilute the case and were not following the directions of National Commission for Scheduled Castes member P M Kamalamma.

Harsha Kumar gave an ultimatum to the government to render justice for Dalits. He suggested formation of Joint Action Committees comprising all subsects of Dalits in all the constituencies in the State to fight against the atrocities on them. He recounted an incident where a Dalit youth Yedla Chinna was forced to commit suicide by the upper caste people in Patha Thungapadu four months ago. He demanded that the government reinstall Ambedkar statues, which were desecrated at Ganti Pallipalem, Draksharamam, Gangavaram, Kapavaram, Kuyyeru and Masakapalli by August 15.

He demanded that the government allocate site for the construction of burial grounds for Christians. Dalit leaders Mallela Venkata Rao, Settibathula Kumar Raja and G V Sri Raj spoke on the occasion.