DM Monitoring
New Delhi: A Dalit Congress leader in Gujarat has said that he, along with his family and many others from the Dalit community will convert to Islam if the BJP government in Gujarat doesn’t seek the resignation of a ruling party MLA, whose son allegedly assaulted him.
Rajesh Solanki, who is the president of the Congress’s Junagadh city SC/ST cell, has demanded the resignation of BJP MLA Geetaba Jadeja and arrest of her husband Jayrajsinh, who is also a former three-time MLA, reported by media.
Their son Jyotiradityasinh, 25, was booked by the Gujarat police on May 31 for allegedly kidnapping Sanjay, the son of Solanki. Jyotiradityasinh was subsequently arrested by the police.
Sanjay had alleged in his complaint that following an argument with the MLA’s son’s driving, the accused had taken him to Gondal in Rajkot district, before stripping him and forcing him to apologise. The accused had threatened him with a pistol and recorded his apology.
Solanki has given the Gujarat BJP government time till August 15 to fulfil his demands.
If the government and the BJP don’t listen to us and agree to our demands, we shall lead a huge rally to Gandhinagar and submit memorandums to the Chief Minister, Governor and the BJP president to demand justice for Dalits. If the government doesn’t move even after that, we shall convert to Islam as it won’t make sense to be part of a religion whose members break our backs, but who are happy to marry their daughters to those who offer namaz while refusing to acknowledge us as fellow Hindus,” said Solaki, reported by media.
Earlier two month, The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Monday’s killing of journalist Ashutosh Srivastava and Sunday’s assault on journalist Raghav Trivedi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and called on authorities to thoroughly investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice.
At about 9:30 a.m. on May 13, Srivastava, a correspondent for the Hindu-right wing news channel Sudarshan News and a member of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was shot several times by unknown assailants while riding his motorcycle at an intersection outside the city of Jaunpur, according to news reports. He was declared dead upon arrival at a local hospital and police were investigating the incident, those sources said.
CPJ was unable to establish if Srivastava was killed in relation to his journalism.
A month earlier, Srivastava had raised concerns about his safety with local police, after receiving threats due to his reporting on the illegal slaughter of cows, according to The New Indian Express and a reporter who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisals.
