NEW DELHI – The Dalits protests that erupted in Maharashtra over killing ofa youth in Bhima-Koregaon in Pune has now spread to Gujarat. A dayafter Maharashtra bandh, protesters took to streets in Junagarh in Gujarat.
Agitating over the killing of the Dalit youth in Pune, protesters onThursday blocked the Madhuram bypass road in Junagarh, hitting road trafficin the region.
This came even as an event of Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevaniwas cancelled by police in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police reportedly sealed thevenue of Mevani’s event, which was also slated to be attended by JNUstudent leader Umar Khalid.
The developments come three days after violent clashes between Dalit groupsand supporters of right-wing Hindutva organisations during the200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Punedistrict left a man dead.
Dalit groups were celebrating the bicentenary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle,which the forces of the British East India Company had won over those ofthe Peshwa.