Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 09.08.15

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Unfortunately we are still long far from our immediately need of resources which ensure to restore our all the activities.

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50 Dalits in Haryana convert to Islam - DNA

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-50-dalits-in-haryana-convert-to-islam-2112433

Overdue SC/ST Amendment bill passed after avoidable one year delay - Two Circle

http://twocircles.net/2015aug09/1439064245.html#.VcbYRHGqqko

Researchers pick holes in self-financing system - The Hindu

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/KERALA/RESEARCHERS-PICK-HOLES-IN-SELFFINANCING-SYSTEM/ARTICLE7518200.ECE

Prison no hindrance, UP man pursues education dream - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Prison-no-hindrance-UP-man-pursues-education-dream/articleshow/48409087.cms

Mala Mahanadu stir for reservations in private sector - Web India

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20150808/2657045.html

AP govt to help 300 SC students study abroad: Minister - The Financial Express

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/jobs/ap-govt-to-help-300-sc-students-study-abroad-minister/115995/

State Scholarship Council in The Offing - The New Indian Express

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/State-Scholarship-Council-in-The-Offing/2015/08/09/article2965138.ece

Please Watch:

Part I - Untouchability & Casteism (Castes) Still EXISTS even Today in India- 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKZxAAAiJdg

Note : Please find attachment for DMW Hindi (PDF)

DNA

50 Dalits in Haryana convert to Islam

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-50-dalits-in-haryana-convert-to-islam-2112433

Sunday, 9 August 2015 - 7:20am IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: dna | From the print edition

Azaan Javaid

Nearly 50 members of the Dalit community of Haryana's Bhagana village on Saturday converted to Islam during protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar in the National Capital. The demonstration, organised by Bhagana Kand Sangarsh Samiti (BKSS) was against the alleged persecution faced by the Dalit community at the hands of upper caste Jats.

Nearly 50 members of the Dalitcommunity of Haryana's Bhagana village on Saturday converted to Islam during protest demonstration at Jantar Mantarin the National Capital. The demonstration, organised by Bhagana Kand Sangarsh Samiti (BKSS) was against the alleged persecution faced by the Dalit community at the hands of upper caste Jats.

At the heart of the conflict in Haryana is the struggle over land and it's use and ownership by the poor Dalits which has been grabbed by the dominant castes.

Speaking to dna 45-year-old Ved Pal of the BKSS said that the movement to convert to Islam has been gaining pace ever since the brutal gang rape of four Dalit girls in Bhagana village in 2014.The girls were going out to fetch water in the evening and they saw a white colored car rushing towards them and grabbed them inside the car.

The girls, aged between 13 and 18 years, belong to the landless Dhanuk caste, and worked for upper caste landowners. Ved Pal said the khap panchayat had imposed a social boycott against the caste group, forcing 250 families to leave their homes and flee the village.

"The villagers had to leave our village facing total boycott. Barbers not cutting hair, kids being removed from schools and denying entry into temples is a common happening," Pal said.

On Saturday afternoon, around 50 people, all of them men, gathered for demonstration and after brief speeches of community leaders converted to Islam. The protesters recited verses of Quran and offered prayers as well.

The development comes after almost a year of holding a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. Previously, in a written statement, the victim families had said some of the victims have already converted to Islam in protest against the atrocities of upper caste Hindus.

Satish Kajla, was among the men who converted to Islam on Saturday. While speaking to reporters said that by becoming Muslims he hopes that other Islamic nations would raise voice against the persecution the Dalit community faces.

Two Circle

Overdue SC/ST Amendment bill passed after avoidable one year delay

http://twocircles.net/2015aug09/1439064245.html#.VcbYRHGqqko

Submitted by TwoCircles.net on 9 August 2015 - 1:34am

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: A full one year after its introduction, the long overdue amendments to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes bill, providing stringent actions for offences against people belonging to the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes, have finally been passed by the parliament.

On Tuesday amidst boycott by many opposition parties over suspension of 25 Congress MPs, the Lok Sabha passed The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014.

The bill was introduced in parliament on July 7, 2014 and referred to the standing committee on July 17 2014.

When it was sent to the standing committee by the Lok Sabha it was strongly objected by the Congress who wanted to immediately pass the bill rather than further delay by sending it to standing committee.

The Amendment Ordinance 2014 that was brought by Congress led government had certain important amendments in the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 to simplify the process of hearings and strengthen investigation mechanisms. It was signed by the president on March 4, 2014 and had come into force immediately but was not ratified by the next parliament within six months and hence it had lapsed.

After its introduction in the parliament by BJP government, it took one more year to pass the bill when it was passed on Tuesday by the Lok Sabha. The bill is virtually the same as the ordinance that was brought by former United Progressive Alliance.

This new bill makes it a punishable offence for public servants to 'willfully neglect' duties on matters relating to atrocities against SCs and STs.

Highlights:

•       The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2014 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Thaawar Chand Gehlot on July 16, 2014.

•       The Bill replaces the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance, 2014.

•       The Bill seeks to amend the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Act prohibits the commission of offences against members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) and establishes special courts for the trial of such offences and the rehabilitation of victims.

•       Actions to be treated as offences: The Act outlines actions (by non SCs and STs) against SCs or STs to be treated as offences. The Bill amends certain existing categories and adds new categories of actions to be treated as offences.

•       Forcing an SC or ST individual to vote or not vote for a particular candidate in a manner that is against the law is an offence under the Act. The Bill adds that impeding certain activities related to voting will also be considered an offence. Wrongfully occupying land belonging to SCs or STs is an offence under the Act. The Bill defines 'wrongful' in this context, which was not done under the Act.

•       Assaulting or sexual exploiting an SC or ST woman is an offence under the Act. The Bill adds that: (a) intentionally touching an SC or ST woman in a sexual manner without her consent, or (b) using words, acts or gestures of a sexual nature, or (c) dedicating an SC or ST women as a devadasi to a temple, or any similar practice will also be considered an offence. Consent is defined as a voluntary agreement through verbal or non-verbal communication.

•       New offences added under the Bill include: (a) garlanding with footwear, (b) compelling to dispose or carry human or animal carcasses, or do manual scavenging, (c) abusing SCs or STs by caste name in public, (d) attempting to promote feelings of ill-will against SCs or STs or disrespecting any deceased person held in high esteem, and (e) imposing or threatening a social or economic boycott.

•       Preventing SCs or STs from undertaking the following activities will be considered an offence: (a) using common property resources, (c) entering any place of worship that is open to the public, and (d) entering an education or health institution.

•       The court shall presume that the accused was aware of the caste or tribal identity of the victim if the accused had personal knowledge of the victim or his family, unless the contrary is proved.

•       Role of public servants: The Act specifies that a non SC or ST public servant who neglects his duties relating to SCs or STs shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of six months to one year. The Bill specifies these duties, including: (a) registering a complaint or FIR, (b) reading out information given orally, before taking the signature of the informant and giving a copy of this information to the informant, etc.

•       Role of courts: Under the Act, a court of Session at the district level is deemed a Special Court to provide speedy trials for offences. A Special Public Prosecutor is appointed to conduct cases in this court.

•       The Bill substitutes this provision and specifies that an Exclusive Special Court must be established at the district level to try offences under the Bill. In districts with fewer cases, a Special Court may be established to try offences. An adequate number of courts must be established to ensure that cases are disposed of within two months. Appeals of these courts shall lie with the high court, and must be disposed of within three months. A Public Prosecutor and Exclusive Public Prosecutor shall be appointed for every Special Court and Exclusive Special Court respectively.

•       Rights of victims and witnesses: The Bill adds a chapter on the rights of victims and witness. It shall be the duty of the state to make arrangements for the protection of victims, their dependents and witnesses. The state government shall specify a scheme to ensure the implementation of rights of victims and witnesses.

•       The courts established under the Bill may take measures such as: (a) concealing the names of witnesses, (b) taking immediate action in respect of any complaint relating to harassment of a victim, informant or witness, etc. Any such complaint shall be tried separately from the main case and be concluded within two months.

The Hindu

Researchers pick holes in self-financing system

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/KERALA/RESEARCHERS-PICK-HOLES-IN-SELFFINANCING-SYSTEM/ARTICLE7518200.ECE

K.A. MARTIN

Industrial barons have chosen the sector as another investment opportunity

espite its once famed commitment to the ideal of free, universal education for all, researchers say that the higher education sector in Kerala, dominated by self-financing institutions, marches on its belly, driven by the aspirants' ability to pay, expanding inequity and education exclusion.

"Education exclusion, instead of declining has increased to an unmanageable scale," says a social class analysis 'Education Exclusion in the Professional Self-Financing Sector in Kerala' by the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Though self-financing sector in professional education had a "humble beginning," it has been "shaped and reshaped as an industrial sub-sector" to make profit as industrial barons chose it as another investment opportunity.

A kind of dualism

The study also found "a kind of dualism" in which quality education is available only to the rich "in the form of public English-medium system." D. Rajasenan, who led the study, said that the number of Scheduled Tribe students who sought admissions to self-financing institutions formed less than three per cent of the total admissions.

The percentage of Scheduled Caste students stood between seven and eight per cent. Their combined pass percentage stood between six and seven.

The key reason for this, he said, was the private cost on education, which means what the students have to pay for expenses other than tuition. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are often prohibitively priced for students from humble economic backgrounds.

While the caste-based reservation system has not helped improve the situation, even the universities, and government engineering and medical colleges have turned out to be centres of education exclusion because of the "hidden costs".

Most of the data for the study were collected by a survey of 900 students comprising 450 engineering students, 225 students of medicine. and 225 management students in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Palakkad districts.

The three streams of studies were chosen because they are the "axes around which higher demand, status and earning rotate," the study said.

The Times Of India

Prison no hindrance, UP man pursues education dream

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Prison-no-hindrance-UP-man-pursues-education-dream/articleshow/48409087.cms

Binay Singh,TNN | Aug 9, 2015, 07.15 AM IST

VARANASI: The double damnation of being a dalit and a prisoner could not deter Ajeet Kumar Saroj from his dream of pursuing higher studies and building a future for himself once he walks out of the jail. Serving a 10-year term for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Ajeet was awarded the gold medal for securing the highest marks in a diploma course of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at a convocation here on Saturday. 

This was also the first time that a diploma-holder was felicitated at the University's convocation in which degrees are conferred upon graduate, post-graduate and doctorate students. 

Ajeet (23), lodged at the Varanasi Central jail after being sentenced to 10-years imprisonment in 2012 under section 304 of the IPC, was awarded gold medal at the 28th convocation of IGNOU held at KN Udupa Auditorium of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Saturday. Vice-chancellor of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad, Prof GC Jaiswal awarded him the medal. Ajeet was also invited to share his experience from the convocation stage. 

"He is a meritorious student, but it is our bad luck that he is behind bars. I am sure he would achieve success in life," his mother Sushila Devi said after embracing her son. Ajeet topped in the country by getting 75% marks in the one-year Diploma in Tourism Studies. "After his imprisonment, he enrolled himself in several certificate programmes in IGNOU and scored more than 65% marks in each programme," said regional director of IGNOU, Varanasi centre, Dr AN Tripathi. 

Appreciating Ajeet's commitment, jailer and jail-coordinator of IGNOU Bhola Nath Mishra said, "He (Ajeet) will be an inspiration for other prisoners pursuing IGNOU courses." 

Ajeet is also pursuing B.Com (3rd year) through IGNOU. "I have done three diploma and four certificate courses after I was lodged in jail on February 1, 2012. I wish to do MBA for my future career after getting out," Ajeet, whose father Ram Bachan Saroj is a small-time farmer at Chakke village in Jaunpur district, said. "We have made an appeal in the High Court for his bail so that he can do better in his studies," his father said. Ajeet told TOI that he is greatly inspired by late South African statesman Nelson Mandela, who spent years in jail and went on to become the country's President.

Web India

Mala Mahanadu stir for reservations in private sector

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20150808/2657045.html

Kakinada | Saturday, Aug 8 2015 IST

East Godavari district unit of Mala Mahanadu at its executive meeting here today with Dhanarasi Shyam sunder in the chair, has resolved extending support to the call given by the SC ST associations for organising a massive rally in the citytomorrow seeking extension of reservations to private sector also.

By another resolution, it has denounced the new industrial policy evolved by both the state and central governments paving the way for closing down or handing over the public sector undertakings to the corporate companies. `It is nothing but diluting the reservation facility provided to the SC STs by Dr Ambedkar. Already employment opportunities are getting diminished day by day and the new industrial policy would worsen the situation. Hence it is high time that reservations needed to be extended to private sector also the resolution said. UNI 

The Financial Express

AP govt to help 300 SC students study abroad: Minister

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/jobs/ap-govt-to-help-300-sc-students-study-abroad-minister/115995/

Andhra Pradesh government today said that it will provide financial assistance to 300 students belonging to scheduled castes (SC) to enable them to pursue higher education in foreign countries.

By: PTI | August 9, 2015 7:50 AM

Andhra Pradesh government today said that it will provide financial assistance to 300 students belonging to scheduled castes (SC) to enable them to pursue higher education in foreign countries.

"300 SC students would be provided financial assistance to pursue higher education in foreign countries under Dr Ambedkar Overseas Education Scholarship Scheme in the state in this academic year," Ravela Kishore Babu, state Minister for Social welfare, said.

He said that 33 SC students have already availed such assistance.

Under NTR Higher Education Scheme, the government will provide financial assistance for SC students to join national level prestigious educational institutions for higher education, he further said.

He inspected a few welfare hostels in the city, and informed that all social welfare hostels would be converted into residential schools in a phased manner.

The New Indian Express

State Scholarship Council in The Offing

BHUBANESWAR:  The State Government is busy finalising the modalities for constituting a scholarship council that would streamline the process of awarding scholarships to meritorious students.

The proposed council will provide a common portal for various scholarship schemes of the Central and State Governments. It would also create a transparent database of the scholars thereby avoiding duplication in processing. Currently, scholarships are being given to eligible students by School and Mass Education, Higher Education, SC/ST Development and Employment and Technical Education and Training (ETET) Departments.

While the budget provision for SC/ST Department is Rs 800 crore, for Higher Education, it is Rs 40 crore and School and Mass Education has a scholarship provision of Rs 100 crore.

At a recent meeting of all departments chaired by Chief Secretary GC Pati, it was decided that an apex body would be proposed by the Higher Education Department to look after the overall functioning of the council which will be headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Ministers of beneficiary departments would be the members of the council. For day-to-day management, there will be an executive body of the council in which Chief Secretary GC Pati will be the chairman and Development Commissioner would be the vice-chairman.

In June, Naveen had directed Pati to examine the proposal for constituting a council exclusively for awarding scholarships to students of Odisha.

Higher Education Secretary Gagan Dhal said the council is aimed at streamlining the scholarship disbursal process.

News monitored by AMRESH & AJEET

Narendra Modi-Barack Obama kites to dot Delhi skyline on Independence Day

There are two types of kites depicting pictures of Modi, with one mentioning "Mahanayak" and "Acche din", while the other one has pictures of Modi and Obama together.

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:August 9, 2015 3:30 pm

Innumerable kites with photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will dot the city skyline.

Ahead of the 69th Independence Day celebrations, innumerable kites with photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will dot the city skyline.

There are two types of kites depicting pictures of Modi, with one mentioning "Mahanayak" and "Acche din", while the other one has pictures of Modi and Obama together.

Bollywood continues to be the evergreen theme this year with kites depicting photos of actors Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor and other television actors, available in the market.

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In Old Delhi, there are thousands of kite merchants who lay their shops every year. This time their shops are full with kites of different colours and sizes illustrating pictures of politicians, actors and cartoons.

According to Arif Mohammad, a shopkeeper, customers are buying kites with pictures of Modi, Salman, Chota Bheem, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Balveer, and Piku.

"Kites depicting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are not there yet. These kites come from Ahmedabad. Dye is used in these kites and a minimum of Rs 40,000 is spent on making it. But there are chances that kites with photos of Kejriwal might come in the market," a shopkeeper said.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/narendra-modi-barack-obama-kites-to-dot-delhi-skyline-on-independence-day/#sthash.NFGrTy31.dpuf

Govt notifies changes in Income Tax rules to comply with FATCA pact

The Revenue Department has amended income tax rules to provide for reporting of information with regards to financial assets and accounts, a month after India signed a tax information sharing agreement with the US.

The Income Tax rules define various terms such as financial asset, financial account, excluded accounts, participating and non-participating financial institutions, among others.

The Revenue Department has amended income tax rules to provide for reporting of information with regards to financial assets and accounts, a month after India signed a tax information sharing agreement with the US.

On July 9, India and the US signed tax agreement under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) that will enable automatic exchange of financial information between the two nations about tax evaders from September 30.

The rules define various terms such as financial asset, financial account, excluded accounts, participating and non-participating financial institutions, among others.

The norms prescribe information to be maintained by the reporting financial institution such as name, address, taxpayer identification number (assigned to the account holder by the country or territory of his residence for tax purposes) and date and place of birth (in the case of an individual) of each reportable person.

The rules prescribe reporting requirements on a staggered basis starting from earlier year 2014 and reporting of all details prescribed from calendar year 2017 onwards.

They also specify due diligence procedure for identifying reportable account and various forms.

"Though FATCA reporting has presented short-term challenges for the industry, the rules will provide much needed guidance to the industry to upgrade their internal information systems for FATCA reporting and help them be compliant," said Amit Maheshwari, Partner Ashok Maheshwary and Associates.

Bahroze Kamdin, Partner, Deloitte Haskins and Sells LLP said the FATCA rules "luciently" provide for the definitions of various terminology, the information to be maintained and reported and the due diligence process to be followed for identifying preexisting and new accounts.

"India is the first country to have come out with joint rules for FATCA and the OECD CRS," Kamdin said and added, the methodical approach will help financial institutions meet the strict timelines.

After signing of FATCA, beginning September 30, banks, mutual funds, insurance, pension and stock-broking firms will report their Indian client details to the United States which will be shared with New Delhi.

Indian entities will do a reciprocal information sharing about Americans.

The FATCA agreement would "enhance tax transparency and accountability in matters of financial reporting and payment of taxes which are legitimately due to various governments," Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das had said.

ঢাকায় এফবিআই

Nagasaki Peace Declaration

August 9, 2015

All my academic and topping university records are public. Why is Modi declining RTI after claiming to have been a topper?

Greetings! 

Human Rights Defenders Alert - India has issued urgent appeal to the Focal Point for Human Rights Defenders in National Human Rights Commission, Delegation of the European Union to India, The Chairperson of Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Chief Secretary of Govt. of Chhattisgarh, Director General of Police Chhattisgarh, District Collector of Dantewada District, Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders-Geneva, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Bangkok, Frontline-The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, OMCT International Secretariate-Geneva & The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders-Switzerland writing to express our grave concern regarding the threat of excommunication issued against Soni Sori and other social activists by the  Inspector General of Police, Bastar region of  Chhattisgarh , Mr. SRP Kalluri on 1^st  August, 2015 raising fears of further harassment and personal safety of human rights defender Ms. Soni Sori and her family.

We request you to address solidarity appeals to the authorities in your organizational / individual capacities immediately. If you choose to use a model appeal that we have created, please feel free to do the same. It is appended – use after filling the portions in red. Beneath the model appeal are the addresses of the authorities. Please inform us of any action you take in this regard at hrda.india@gmail.com  

Thanks and Regards

Secretariat - HRDA India

भगाना के दलित

                            इंसाफ माँगा था, इस्लाम मिला !

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लगभग 4 माह तक उनका सामाजिक बहिष्कार किया गया ,आर्थिक नाकेबंदी हुयी ,तरह तरह की मानसिक प्रताड़नाएँ दी गयी | गाँव में सार्वजनिक नल से पानी भरना मना था ,शौच के लिए शामलात जमीन का उपयोग नहीं किया जा सकता था ,एक मात्र गैर दलित डॉक्टर ने उनका इलाज करना बंद कर दिया ,जानवरों का गोबर डालना अथवा मरे जानवरों को दफ़नाने के लिए गाँव की भूमि का उपयोग तक वे नहीं कर सकते थे | उनका दूल्हा या दुल्हन घोड़े पर बैठ जाये ,यह तो संभव ही नहीं था| जब साँस लेना भी दूभर होने लगा तो अंततः भगाना गाँव के 70 दलित परिवारों ने 21 मई 2012 को अपने जानवरों समेत गाँव छोड़ देना ही उचित समझा| वे न्याय की प्रत्याशा में जिला मुख्यालय हिसार स्थित मिनी सचिवालय के पास आ जमें ,जहाँ पर उन्होंने विरोध स्वरुप धरना प्रदर्शन शुरू कर दिया| भगाना के दलितों ने ग्राम पंचायत के सरपंच से लेकर देश के महामहिम राष्ट्रपति महोदय तक हर जगह न्याय की गुहार लगायी ,वे तहसीलदार के पास गए ,उपखंड अधिकारी को अपनी पीड़ा से अवगत कराया ,जिले के पुलिस अधीक्षक तथा जिला कलेक्टर को अर्जियां दी| तत्कालीन और वर्तमान मुख्यमंत्री से कई कई बार मिले| विभिन्न आयोगों ,संस्थाओं एवं संगठनों के दरवाजों को खटखटाते रहे ,दिल्ली में हर पार्टी के अलाकमानों के दरवाजों पर दस्तक दी मगर कहीं से इंसाफ की कोई उम्मीद नहीं जगी| उन्होंने अपने संघर्ष को व्यापक बनाने के लिए हिसार से उठकर दिल्ली जंतर मंतर पर अपना डेरा जमाया तथा 16 अप्रैल 2014 से अब तक दिल्ली में बैठ कर पुरे देश को अपनी व्यथा कथा कहते रहे ,मगर समाज और राज के इस नक्कारखाने में भगाना के इन दलितों  की आवाज़ को कभी नहीं सुना गया| हर स्तर पर ,हर दिन वे लड़ते रहे ,पहले उन्होंने घर छोड़ा ,फिर गाँव छोड़ा ,जिला और प्रदेश छोड़ा और अंततः थक हार कर धर्म को भी छोड़ गए ,तब कहीं जाकर थोड़ी बहुत हलचल हुयी है लेकिन अब भी उनकी समस्या के समाधान की बात नहीं हो रही है| अब विमर्श के विषय बदल रहे है ,कोई यह नहीं जानना चाहता है कि आखिर भगाना के दलितों को इतना बड़ा कदम उठाने के लिए किन परिस्तिथियों  ने मजबूर किया ?

भगाना हरियाणा के हिसार जिला मुख्यालय से मात्र 17 किमी दूर का एक पारम्परिक गाँव है| जिसमे 59 % जाट ,8 % सामान्य सवर्ण {ब्राह्मण ,बनिया ,पंजाबी } 9 % अन्य पिछड़ी जातियां { चिम्बी ,तेली ,कुम्हार ,लौहार व गोस्वामी }तथा 24 % दलित { चमार ,खटिक ,डोमा ,वाल्मीकि एवं बैगा } निवास करते है| वर्ष 2000 में यहाँ पर अम्बेडकर वेलफेयर समिति बनी ,दलित संगठित होने लगे| उन्हें गाँव में अपने साथ होने वाले अन्याय साफ नज़र आने लगे ,वे अपने नागरिक अधिकारों को प्राप्त करने के प्रयास में एकजुट होने लगे ,जिससे यथास्थितिवादी ताकतें असहज होने लगी| दलितों ने अपने लिए आवासीय भूमि के पट्टे मांगे तथा गाँव की शामलाती जमीन पर अपनी भागीदारी सुनिश्चित करने की मांग उठाई| संघर्ष की वास्तविक शुरुआत वर्ष 2012 में तब हुयी जबकि दलितों ने गाँव में स्थित चमार चौक का नाम अम्बेडकर चौक करने तथा वहां पर अम्बेडकर की प्रतिमा लगाने की मांग शुरू की| दरअसल यह चौक दलित परिवारों की आबादी के पास स्थित है ,जहाँ पर कई दलितों के घरों के दरवाजे खुलते है ,मगर गाँव के दबंगों को यह गवारा ना था कि इस चौक पर दलितों का कब्ज़ा हो| इतना ही नहीं बल्कि गाँव में दलितों को आवासीय भूखंड देने के लिए बनायीं गयी महात्मा गाँधी बस्ती विकास योजना के तहत प्लॉट्स का पंजीकरण और आवंटन भी उन्हें स्वीकार नहीं था| गाँव की शामलाती जमीन पर दलितों की आवाजाही भी उन्हें बर्दाश्त नहीं थी.कुल मिलाकर भगाना स्वाभिमानी दलितों के लिए नरक बन चुका था ,ऐसे में दलितों के लिए गाँव छोड़कर चले जाने तथा इंसाफ के लिए आवाज़ उठाने के अलावा  कोई चारा ही नहीं था| इस तरह यह लडाई चलती रही| विगत तीन वर्षों से यह जंग बहुत सघन और मज़बूत हो गयी ,पहले हिसार के मिनी सचिवालय के बाहर और अंततः जंतर मंतर पर यह संघर्ष जारी रहा| 2014 से जंतर मंतर को ठिकाना बना कर लड़ रहे इन दलितों को कोई न्याय नहीं मिल पाया ,ऊपर से चार दलित नाबालिग लड़कियों का भगाना गाँव में अपहरण और सामूहिक दुष्कर्म का मामला और हो गया ,जिसमे भी पुलिस की भूमिका संतोषजनक नहीं रह पाई ,इससे भी आक्रोश बढ़ता गया| हरियाणा की पिछली सरकार ने संघर्षरत दलितों से न्याय के कई वादे किये मगर वे सत्ता से बाहर हो गए ,भाजपा की सरकार के मुख्यमंत्री खट्टर से भी भगाना के पीड़ित चार बार मिलकर आये ,मगर कोई कार्यवाही नहीं हुयी ,लम्बे संघर्ष के कारण दलित संगठनों के रहनुमाओं ने भी कन्नी काट ली ,जब कोई भी साथी नहीं रहा ,तब भगाना के दलितों को कोई ना कोई तो कदम उठाना ही था ,इसलिए उन्होंने संसद के सत्र के दौरान एक रैली का आह्वान करता हुआ पर्चा सबको भेजा ,यह रैली 8 अगस्त 2015 को आयोजित की गयी थी ,इसी दौरान करीब 100 परिवारों ने जंतर मंतर पर ही कलमा और नमाज पढ़कर इस्लाम कुबूल करने का ऐलान कर दिया ,जिससे देश भर में हडकंप मचा हुआ है| भगाना में इसकी प्रतिक्रिया में गाँव में सर्वजाति महापंचायत हुयी है जिसमे हिन्दू महासभा ,विश्व हिन्दू परिषद् तथा बजरंग दल के नेता भी शामिल हुए ,उन्होंने खुलेआम यह फैसला किया है कि –"धर्म परिवर्तन करने वाले लोग फिर से हिन्दू बनकर आयें ,वरना उन्हें गाँव में नहीं घुसने देंगे| "विहिप के अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय महामंत्री डॉ सुरेन्द्र जैन का कहना है कि – "यह धर्मांतरण पूरी तरह से ब्लेकमेलिंग है ,इसे किसी भी सूरत में बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जायेगा| " हिन्दू महासभा के धर्मपाल सिवाच का संकल्प है कि –"भगाना के दलितों की हर हाल में हिन्दू धर्म में वापसी कराएँगे|"जो दलित मजहब बदल कर गाँव लौटे है उन्हें हिंदूवादी नेताओं ने समझाने के नाम पर धमकाने की कोशिश भी की है वहीँ दूसरी और देश और प्रदेश की हिंदूवादी सरकारों ने सत्ता का कहर भी ढाना  प्रारम्भ कर दिया है | धर्मांतरण के तुरंत बाद ही शुक्रवार की रात को हिसार के मिनी सचिवालय के बाहर विगत तीन वर्षों से धरना दे रहे दलितों को हरियाणा पुलिस ने जबरन हटा दिया और टेंट फाड़ दिए है| दिल्ली जंतर मंतर पर भी 10 अगस्त की रात को पुलिस ने धरनार्थियों पर धावा बोल दिया ,विरोध करने पर लाठी चार्ज किया गया ,जिससे 11 लोग घायल हो गए है.यहाँ से भी इन लोगों को खदेड़ने का पूरा प्रयास किया गया है| अब स्थिति यह है इस्लाम अपना चुके लोगों का गाँव में बहिष्कार किया जा चुका है,हालाँकि यह भी सच है कि इनका पहले से ही ग्रामीणों ने सामाजिक बहिष्कार किया हुआ था| हिसार से उन्हें भगाया जा चुका है और जंतर मंतर से भी वो खदेड़े गए है ,ऐसे में यह सवाल उठना लाज़िमी है कि भगाना के इतने लम्बे आन्दोलन का आखिर भविष्य क्या होगा ? क्या यह आगे भी चल पायेगा या यही ख़त्म हो जायेगा ? यह सवाल मैंने आन्दोलन से बहुत नज़दीक से जुड़े हुए तथा धर्मान्तरण कार्यक्रम के मुख्य योजनाकार अब्दुल रज्जाक अम्बेडकर से पूंछा ,उनका कहना है कि – "जालिमों के खिलाफ यह लड़ाई जारी रहेगी| जंतर मंतर पर धरना जारी है और आईंदा भी जारी रहेगा ,जहाँ तक गाँव की सर्वखाप पंचायत के फैसले की तो हम उससे नहीं डरते ,हम लोग जल्दी ही भगाना जायेंगे ,यह हमारा लोकतान्त्रिक अधिकार है " | रज्जाक अम्बेडकर का कहना है कि –'हमें मालूम था कि इस धर्मांतरण के बाद हमारी मुश्किलात बढ़ेगी ,क्योंकि साम्प्रदायिक संगठन इसे हिन्दू मुस्लिम का मुद्दा बना रहे है ,पर जिन दलितों ने इस्लाम कुबूल कर लिया है ,वो इस्लाम में रह कर ही इंसाफ की लडाई लड़ेंगे|' 9 अगस्त की  रात में हुए हमले में पुलिस के निर्दयी लाठीवार में रज्जाक को भी गंभीर चौटें पंहुची है ,मगर उनका हौंसला बरक़रार है ,वे बताते है कि –'धर्मान्तरित दलित जानते है कि अब उनका अनुसूचित जाति का स्टेट्स नहीं बचेगा ,मगर उन्हें यह भी उम्मीद है मुस्लिम बिरादरी उनके सहयोग में आगे आएगी|'

जिन दलितों ने धर्म बदला है ,उनका मनोबल चारों तरफ से हो रहे प्रहारों के बावजूद भी कमजोर नहीं लगता है| नव धर्मान्तरित सतीश काजला जो कि अब अब्दुल कलाम अम्बेडकर है ,कहते है कि-'हम हर हाल में अब मुसलमान ही रहेंगे , जो कदम हमने उठाया ,वह अगर हमारे पूर्वज उठा लेते तो आज ये दिन हमको नहीं देखने पड़ते|'इसी तरह पिछड़े वर्ग से ताल्लुक रखने वाले भगाना निवासी धर्मान्तरित वीरेन्द्र सिंह बागोरिया का कहना है कि –'हम पूरी तरह से इस्लाम अपना चुके है और अब किसी भी भय ,दबाव या प्रलोभन में वापस हिन्दू नहीं बनेंगे|'अन्य दलित व अति पिछड़े जिन्होंने इस्लाम कबूला है ,वो भी अपने फैसले पर फ़िलहाल तो मजबूती से टिके हुए है .भाजपा ,संघ ,विहिप ,बजरंग दल तथा हिन्दू महासभा अपना पूरा जोर लगा रही है कि धर्मान्तरित लोग अपने मूल धर्म में लौट आये ,मगर भगाना के पीड़ित दलितों ने अपना सन्देश स्पष्ट कर दिया है कि अगर हिन्दुओं को दलितों की परवाह नहीं है तो दलितों को भी हिन्दुओं की रत्ती भर भी परवाह नहीं है| एक ऐसे वक़्त में जबकि एक दक्षिणपंथी हिन्दू शासक दिल्ली की सल्लतनत पर काबिज़ है ,ऐसे में उसकी नाक के नीचे खुलेआम ,चेतावनी देकर ,पर्चे बाँट कर ,ऐलानिया तौर पर पीड़ित दलित इस्लाम कुबूल कर रहे है तो यह वर्ष 2020 में बनने वाले कथित हिन्दू राष्ट्र के मार्ग में गति अवरोधक बन सकता है| भगाना के दलितों ने लम्बे समय तक सोच कर यह निर्णय लिया है ,एक माह पहले जब मैं उनके धरने में गया तब मुझे इसका अहसास होने लगा था कि उनका रुख मजहब बदलने की तरफ है और वे शायद इस्लाम का दामन थामेंगे|   

  एक लोकतान्त्रिक देश में कोई भी नागरिक किसी भी धर्म को स्वीकारे या अस्वीकार करे ,यह उनकी व्यक्तिगत इच्छा है और कानूनन इसमें कुछ भी गलत नहीं है ,इसलिए भगाना के दलितों द्वारा किये गए इस्लाम को कुबूलने के निर्णय से मुझे कोई आपति नहीं है ,मैं उनके निर्णय का आदर करता हूँ ,हालाँकि मेरी व्यक्तिगत मान्यता यह है कि धर्मान्तरण किसी भी समस्या का हल नहीं हो सकता है क्योंकि यह खुद ही एक समस्या है| संगठित धर्म के आडम्बर और पाखंड तथा उसकी घटिया राजनीती सदैव ही  धर्म का सक्षम तबका तय करता है ,भारत के जितने भी धर्म है ,उन सबमें जातियां पाई जाती है तथा कम ज्यादा जातिगत भेदभाव भी मौजूद रहता है ,इस्लाम भी इससे अछुता नहीं है.जैसा कि दलित चिन्तक एस आर दारापुरी का कहना  है कि-"धर्मपरिवर्तन दलित उत्पीडन का हल नहीं है ,दलितों को संघर्ष का रास्ता अपनाना चाहिए ,हाँ अगर धर्म बदलना ही है तो बौद्ध धर्म अपनाना चाहिए जिसके सिद्धांत और व्यव्हार में अंतर नहीं है जबकि भारतीय इस्लाम ,इसाई और सिख धर्म में यह अंतर पाया जाता है | "वाकई यह एक विचारणीय प्रश्न है कि क्या हिन्दू धर्म का त्याग करके किसी और धर्म को अपना लेने मात्र से कोई व्यक्ति जातिगत घृणा से मुक्त हो जाता है या धार्मिक नफरत का भी शिकार होने लगता है| जैसा कि भगाना के धर्मान्तरित दलितों के साथ होने लगा है कि धर्म बदलते ही उनके प्रति राज्य और समुदाय दोनों का व्यवहार अत्यंत क्रूर हो गया है| फिर यह भी देखना होगा कि क्या आज मुसलमान खुद भी स्वयं को सुरक्षित महसूस करते है ,जिस तरीके से बहुसंख्यक भीड़ के हमले उन पर बढ़ रहे है ,गुजरात ,मुज्जफरनगर ,अटाली जैसे हमले इसके उदहारण है ,ऐसे में भले ही दलित उनका दामन थाम रहे है ,मगर उनका दमन थमेगा ,इसकी सम्भावना बहुत क्षीण नजर आती है .

अंतिम बात यह है कि अब भगाना  के दलितों की आस्था बाबा साहेब के संविधान के प्रति उतनी प्रगाढ़ रह पायेगी या वो अपनी समस्याओं के हल कुरान और शरिया तथा अपने बिरदाराने मुसलमान में ढूंढेगे ? क्या लडाई के मुद्दे और तरीके बदल जायेंगे ,क्या अब भी भगाना के दलित मुस्लिम अपने गाँव के चमार चौक पर अम्बेडकर की प्रतिमा लगाने हेतु संघर्ष करेंगे या यह उनके लिए बुतपरस्ती की बात हो जाएगी ,सवाल यह भी है कि क्या भारतीय मुसलमान भगाना के नव मुस्लिमों को अपने मज़हब में बराबरी का दर्जा देंगे या उनको वहां भी पसमांदा के साथ बैठ कर मसावात की जंग को जारी रखना होगा ? अगर ऐसा हुआ तो फिर यह  खाई से निकलकर कुएं में गिरने वाली बात ही होगी| भगाना के दलितों को इंसाफ मिले यह मेरी भी सदैव चाहत रही है ,मगर उन्हें इंसाफ के बजाय इस्लाम मिला है ,जो कि उनका अपना चुनाव है ,हम उनके धर्म बदलने के संवैधानिक अधिकार के पक्ष में खड़े है ,कोई भी ताकत उनके साथ जोर जबरदस्ती नहीं कर पायें और जो भी उनका चयन है ,वे अपनी चयनित आस्था का अनुपालन करे,यह सुनिश्चित करना अब भारतीय राष्ट्र राज्य की जिम्मेदारी है ,मगर अब भी मुझे दलित समस्याओं का हल धर्म बदलने में नहीं दिखाई पड़ता है| आज दलितों को एक धर्म छोड़कर दुसरे धर्म में जाने की जरुरत नहीं है ,उन्हें किसी भी धर्म को स्वीकारने के बजाय सारे धर्मों को नकारना होगा ,तभी मुक्ति संभव है ,संभवतः सब धर्मों को दलितों की जरुरत है ,मगर मेरा मानना है कि दलितों को किसी भी धर्म की जरुरत नहीं है .धर्म रहित एक लोकतंत्र जरुर चाहिए ,जहाँ पर  समता ,स्वतंत्रता और भाईचारा से परिपूर्ण जीवन जीने का हक सुनिश्चित हो|

-    भंवर मेघवंशी

{ लेखक राजस्थान में मानव अधिकार के मुद्दों पर कार्यरत स्वतंत्र पत्रकार है }