The organisation called it shameful that the country's Prime Minister hails from Gujarat, yet he and his party have not taken any concrete steps to abolish the caste system in his home state. His silence on this atrocity is not neutrality, but complicity.
New Delhi- The All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA) has strongly condemned the brutal murder of Dalit youth Nilesh Rathod in Jarakhia village of Amreli district of Gujarat. AIISCA said that Nilesh’s only “crime” was to call a minor boy, who belonged to a so-called “upper” caste, “son”. Caste mentality took a violent turn in response to this simple human affection.
The incident reflects everyday caste violence against Dalits in Gujarat, which violently enforces caste supremacy despite claims of a development model. The organisation criticised the silence and normalising role of the ruling caste-class nexus, which includes business elites, upper caste landlords and the political class, in the violence.
AIISCA President Dr Rahul Sompimpale issued a statement.
The organisation termed the silence of Dalit MPs and MLAs of the ruling party as complicity in standing with upper caste bosses rather than their own community. The failure of Gujarat’s state machinery—police, administration and politicians—to protect Dalits was also questioned. The police’s lethargic response exposes institutional casteism.
The organisation called it shameful that the country’s Prime Minister hails from Gujarat, yet he and his party have not taken any concrete steps to end the caste system in his home state. His silence on this atrocity is not neutrality but complicity.
AIISCA expressed solidarity with the grieving family of Nilesh Rathod, who have announced that they will not accept his body until their demands are met. Their demand is not just compensation, but respect, recognition and an end to the violent caste system.
Demands:
- Immediate and full compensation to all victim families, including:
o Five acres of agricultural land or government jobs for all affected families.
- The investigation be handed over to an independent, high-ranking officer with a clean record, and a time-bound trial in a special fast-track court under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
- FIR and arrest of all remaining accused, who incited and aided the mob.
- Statewide public inquiry into caste-based violence in Gujarat, with particular focus on rural areas.
- Public apology and assurance of reform from the Chief Minister of Gujarat, as well as a statement from the Prime Minister acknowledging structural caste violence in Gujarat.
- Initiation of a comprehensive anti-caste violence policy in Gujarat, including:
o Dedicated SC/ST protection task force.
o Educational and cultural programs to eradicate caste bias.
o Accountability mechanism for caste-based negligence by police and civil servants.
AIISCA warned that if the Rathore family did not get justice, the organisation would launch nationwide protests. The organisation said they would not allow this violence to be buried under bureaucratic silence and electoral games. Dalit lives matter, and the right to dignity is inviolable.
Sompimple said the statement is not a petition but a warning: caste cannot be normalised in any democratic society. And those who support it directly or indirectly will be held accountable.
Courtey; Geetha Sunil Pillai, Hindi News