Kathamandu,21 Mar 2015: The Dalit leaders aligned to different political parties on Saturday vented out their long pent up feelings complaining the Dalit community was being used by the political parties only as vote bank during elections.
Speaking at an interaction on ’50th International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Nepali Dalit Problem’s Inter-relation’ organized by the Dalit sister wings of the political parties, participating leaders alleged the Dalit community was always deprived of opportunity despite making incalculable contribution during frequent agitations, people’s war among other forms of uprising.
UCPN (Maoist) aligned Nepal National Dalit Mukti Morcha member Chandra Bahadur Bishwokarma termed the ‘feudal state regime of the Hindu caste system’ as the major hurdle to the emancipation of the Dalits.
On the occasion, Nepal Rastriya Dalit Mukti Morcha Coordinator Tilak Pariyar grieved the government had not heeded to recent attacks on the Dalit communities across the country modeled on ethnic reasons.
UCPN (Maoist) leader Rarendra Baraili said Dalit emancipation was possible only through Dalit unity, struggle and transformation from the streets, parliament and parties.
Nepal Dalit Mukti Morcha Vice Chairman Balram Bishwokarma said the Dalit problem could not be entirely branded as a cultural problem while stressing for integration with the class-based agitation.
Badi Bikash Board Vice Chairman Puspa Badi, Dalit Bikash Samittee Vice Chairman Khim Bahadur Bishwokarma, Dalit leader Padam Bishwokarma and Budhi Nepali underscored the need for the Dalit community to fight to fend off discrimination from the non-Dalit communities rather than fighting amongst each other for Dalits’ emancipation.
Meanwhile, speaking at an interaction programme held at Biratnagar on the same occasion, former Deputy Prime Minister and UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said the discrimination being met by Dalits, women, the indigenous nationalities and the Madhesi people could only be eliminated by enshrining equal rights, social justice and identity in the new constitution.
He insisted the new constitution must provision special rights with reparations guaranteed for the victims of racial discrimination.
Another former DPM and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav said discrimination against Dalits, women, Madhesi and the indigenous nationalities would not end unless arrangements were made for reservation with compensation in the new constitution.
Source:RSS
