12 Baran Cong councillors send resignation letters to Gehlot over Dalit boy’s death

 

 

 

TWELVE Congress councillors in the Rajasthan’s Baran Municipal Council on Tuesday sent their resignation letters to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, expressing anguish over atrocities against the Dalits and backing party MLA Pana Chand Meghwal.

The Baran-Atru MLA on Monday had sent his resignation letter to Gehlot, two days after the death of a nine-year-old Dalit boy who was allegedly beaten up by his schoolteacher for touching a drinking water pot in Jalore.

Meanwhile, political leaders made a beeline for the boy’s home in Jalore’s Surana village.

Congress leader and former State Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday reached the boy’s home and said a strong message needs to be given to win the Dalit community’s trust. State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra visited the boy’s home with Women and Child Welfare Minister Mamta Bhupesh, PWD Minister Bhajan Lal Jatav and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Govind Ram Meghwal. He announced a financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the family from the party fund and promise a speedy trial. Backing MLA Meghwal’s move, 12 of the 25 Congress councillors in the Baran civic body expressed anguish over atrocities against the Dalits and deprived sections. Ward No.29 councillor Yogendra Mehta said they sent their resignation letters in support of the MLA and against the Government’s failure to protect the Dalits.

The other councillors who sent their resignation letters are Rohitashva Saxena, Rajaram Meena, Rekha Meena, Leeladhar Nagar, Hariraj Erwal, Piyush Soni, Urvashi Meghwal, Yashwant Yadav, Anwar Ali, Jyoti Jatav and Mayank Mathodia, he said.

They will submit copies of their resignation letters to the Kota Divisional Commissioner on Wednesday, Mehta added.

Meanwhile, nominated councillor of the Kota’s Itawa civic body Suresh Mahawar also sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister. Before heading to Jalore, Pilot said, “Such incidents need to be strongly condemned. We need to put a check on such incidents. Only laws, speeches and actions are not enough. We will have to give them a strong message that we are with them in order to instil trust in them.”