NEW DELHI – Contrary to the general enthusiasm over Anna Hazare’s fast over Lokpal bill, the dalits have struck a divergent note, warning that the government should not accept the Gandhian’s demand against parliamentary processes, saying it would set a dangerous trend and make backward classes vulnerable.
With the war of wits between Hazare’s camp and the Centre entering a decisive phase, the unease felt by the dalit groups since the Gandhian sat on fast spilt out in the open.
Dalit activist Udit Raj, who was denied permission for a rally against Hazare, said the protestors’ demand to “sidestep” the constitutional process was a threat to democracy. He said his group would write a more caste-wise inclusive ‘Bahujan Lokpal bill” and send it to Parliament for consideration.
Raj’s attack only reflected the general wariness among backward classes contrary to across-the-social-divide resentment against graft. Dalit intellectuals said the possibility of mass mobilisation forcing a “set of solutions” on the Centre against constitutional processes raised fears that affirmative action could be a victim of similar techniques.
According to the activists, a precedent of government bowing to street power on the corruption issue could put their position in danger because dominant social sections were just as opposed to job and educational reservation. Memories of the stir against OBC reservation starting from Mandal Commission in the 1990s to education quota in UPA-1 are fresh in their minds.
