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Dalits in Gujarat took to the streets in protest against the alleged "caste-based" attack on a functionary of the Opposition Congress’s student wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).
Hundreds of people, mostly Dalits, participated in the protest, which was held in Gondal, about 250 kilometers from Ahmedabad.
The NSUI functionary, Sanjay Solanki, alleged he had been kidnapped and taken to a deserted farm in Gondal, where he was threatened with a firearm in the presence of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Geetaba Jadeja’s son, Jyotiradityasinh, 25, who was arrested on June 6.
The First Information Report filed in the case quotes Solanki saying some of those at the farm forced him to remove his clothes while others recorded videos of the alleged assault.
Jyotiradityasinh earlier had an altercation with Solanki on May 30 over the former’s reckless driving.
The protesters demanded action against Sanjay Solanki’s attackers, a fast-track court for the speedy disposal of the case, and an end to lawlessness in Gondal.
Around 10,000 people from around 200 villages participated in the protest.
In response, Jayrajsinh Jadeja’s supporters called for a bandh in Gondal, resulting in the closure of the local market for the day.
Jayrajsinh Jadeja maintained they had not given any bandh call but were thankful to the people who shut shops on their own.
Jayrajsinh Jadeja, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 for the murder of a real estate agent in 2004 and is out on conditional bail, has dominated politics in Gondal since 1998.
Source: Dalits take to streets in Gujarat against ‘caste-based’ attack on NSUI leader