Anguished over alleged atrocities on Dalits in Rajasthan, Congress MLA Pana Chand Meghwal tendered his resignation from the MLA post saying he does not have the right to continue if he cannot protect the rights of his community.
In his resignation letter to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, he said, “When we fail to protect the rights of our community…we have no right to remain on the post. After listening to my inner voice, I resign from the post of the MLA, so that I can serve the community without any position.”
The MLA from Baran-Atru constituency said though the country is celebrating its 75th anniversary of independence, atrocities on Dalits and the other deprived classes continue.
“I am hurt looking at the atrocities. I cannot express my pain in words, the way my community is being tortured,” he said.
Meghwal went on to say that Dalits are being killed for drinking water from a pot, sporting a moustache or riding a mare during a wedding. The judicial process is stalled and case files are passed from one table to the other.
“Cases of atrocities against Dalits are on the rise in the last few years. It seems there is no one to protect the rights of Dalits given by the Constitution,” he said.
The development has come two days after the death of a Dalit boy who was allegedly beaten by a school teacher in Jalore for touching a drinking water pot.
Indra Kumar, 9, was beaten up in the school on July 20. He died during treatment at a hospital in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Saturday.
The accused teacher, Chail Singh, 40, has been arrested. The state government has announced a relief of Rs 5 lakh for the victim’s family.
