KOCHI: Jignesh Mewani, the Dalit leader from Gujarat who led the Una protest, called for a grand alliance of forces opposed to communal politics of BJP to defeat the party at the Centre and states. Speaking to DC on the sidelines of the commemoration of the historic Kayal Struggle in Kochi on Friday, he said that a grand alliance of secular and democratic forces was the only way to checkmate the BJP in Gujarat, slated for assembly elections by the end of this year. “I am doing whatever possible at my level for the formation of such an alliance," he added.
Mr. Mewani expressed unhappiness in the way the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government addressing the issues of Dalits and Adivasis. "The attitude of LDF government will be detrimental for the much-needed alliance of the left and Ambedkarite forces at the national level", he said. Dalit reservation for appointments in aided schools/ colleges and agricultural land for Dalits are two issues to be addressed on a priority basis, he said.
The Hindutva forces led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be allowed to appropriate the radical legacy and the long history of Dalit struggles in the country, Mr. Mewani said, adding that Dalits needed to be on guard against such attempts. He commented on the efforts of Modi to hijack the legacy of kayal struggle: "Mr. Modi was trying to use the memory of struggle for spreading communal hatred. I am here for highlighting the importance of the struggle for promoting secular democracy and annihilation of the caste.”
