CPI-M sponsors dalit protest in Shimla

Shimla, Nov 16 (ANI): Communist Party of India Marxist on Monday held a protest rally over discrimination being meted out to the dalit community in the state.

Demonstrators carried placards and banners and shouted slogans for equal rights and immediate government intervention in such cases.

Addressing the gathering Rakesh Singha, general secretary CPI(M) said that because of religious sanction, social discrimination had become legitimized.

On the basis of a survey of dalit households conducted by the party, he said that more than 50 forms of social discrimination were being practiced in the hill stat

"Today widespread untouchability is being practiced in the State and almost 50 forms of social discrimination are there. We want to raise this issue as a political issue because as of now there have been demands for economic rise, price rise, but as far as the social issue is concerned it has not become an issue as such," Tikender Panwar, CPI (M) leader.

"Though there is a law to curb untouchability in our country but still it is not being followed strictly. Moreover, all the political parties use the Dalit (backward class) as their vote bank rather than working for their upliftment," said Jagat Ram, a Dalit leader.

This was the first time that such big rally was organised for the Dalits in the state. The rally was aimed at making a move at the political level to end the century old social evil of untouchability.

After Punjab, Himachal Pradesh has the second highest population of Dalits in India. (ANI)