NEW DELHI - The Dalits protests that erupted in Maharashtra over killing of a youth in Bhima-Koregaon in Pune has now spread to Gujarat. A day after Maharashtra bandh, protesters took to streets in Junagarh in Gujarat.
Agitating over the killing of the Dalit youth in Pune, protesters on Thursday blocked the Madhuram bypass road in Junagarh, hitting road traffic in the region.
This came even as an event of Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani was cancelled by police in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police reportedly sealed the venue of Mevani’s event, which was also slated to be attended by JNU student leader Umar Khalid.
The developments come three days after violent clashes between Dalit groups and supporters of right-wing Hindutva organisations during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district 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 of the Peshwa.