Dalit Lives Matters #DLM

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Do Dalit Lives Matter Anymore for the Government of Andhra Pradesh?

Nara Lokesh

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Jul 22 · 3 min rea

 

Since its formation in the 1950s, Andhra Pradesh had always placed the ideals of social justice at the forefront of its administration and governance. The welfare of the oppressed castes was one of the core ideals of the Dravidian movement and these were also the founding principles of Telugu Desam Party in 1982. Andhra Pradesh had the first Dalit Chief Minister in India when Damodaram Sanjivayya took over in January 1960. From then until the 21st century, Dalit empowerment took huge strides through several landmark decisions of the governments. Sri NT Rama Rao’s dismantling of the feudal karnam system in 80s was followed by ushering in economic reforms in 90s & early 2000s by Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu that greatly reduced poverty among Andhra’s marginalized sections. But their welfare and dignity is under a threat now. What has changed in Andhra now to bring into question decades of progress for the oppressed castes?

In 2019, YSR Congress was voted to power with a huge mandate. Everybody believed in the party’s promise of social justice. On multiple occasions, the current CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assured upliftment of the underprivileged castes and sections. But what has happened over the last few months has shocked the voters. Constant attacks on Dalit intellectuals and commoners across the State has become common. Nobody has been spared, be it a former magistrate, well-regarded doctors, or common men standing up to injustice in the system. The state responded with quick-fix solutions by suspending the accused administrators or starting a CID probe. These can always be reversed once public anger subsides.

What message does it send to the wider society that these incidents are happening again and again, that too in different parts of Andhra Pradesh? Two recent incidents have only made this trend worse. In East Godavari district, a Dalit youth Vara Prasad was beaten up and his head tonsured in a police station for questioning the illegal activities of a ruling party MLA. In Prakasam district, another Dalit youth was brutally beaten up 3 days ago on the pretext of not wearing a mask. He died in hospital of head injuries sustained while trying to jump out of a moving jeep. There have been mass protests condemning this brutalisation of Dalit dignity and bodies but the government has not shown any empathy in ensuring these won’t happen again. Does Andhra need a movement like #BlackLivesMatter to tell the administration that Dalit Lives Matter too?

The police must stop behaving like the private army of the ruling party. Again and again, it has been recorded that the police receive calls from Ministers or MLAs of the ruling party and refuse to file an FIR based on the complaint of those who were attacked. Do Dalit voices and demands for justice not matter when they are directed against those enjoying power? The government must own up to its faults and send out a strong signal by appointing high-powered committees to investigate the structural and direct violence against Dalits in AP. There have also been numerous instances of land-grab by the administration in the name of building houses. These direct and indirect attacks against Dalit intellectuals, Dalit dignity, and Dalits’ properties must stop. If the state does not respond, it is inevitable that the street will respond. The Opposition parties will agitate and fully back the oppressed castes with mass protests demanding justice and prompt action.

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#AllLivesMatter

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