Our Dalit parliamentarians have failed in their duty in forcing the Govt of India to allow a debate on casteism at the WCAR. This applies to BSP MPs too.
BSP has 14 MPs. This (demanding in Indian Parliament) was the easiest route to internationalise the issue. Forcing the agenda on the Govt. of India through. NGO pressure is a difficult route to achieve success.
Four Members of Parliament (Ramdas Athawale, Dalit Ezhilmalai, Pravin Rashtrapal and Prakash Ambedkar) – attended the Durban conference as NGO delegates. Each one of then had to face the wrath of other Dalit delegates. Why was the demand not raised in Indian Parliament? Pravin Rashtrapal (Congress) said not more than 5-6 MPs were ready to sign the memorandum demanding the debate on casteism at Durban.
Rashtrapal said the SC/ST Parliamentary Forum was controlled by the BJP SC/ST MPs. Its secretary, Sangha Priya Gautam, is a member of the govt. delegation to Durban. The Congress Party too has sent its Dalit representative — Sushil Kumar Sindhe — to Durban to oppose the Dalit demand.
Anyway, over 200 Dalit delegates have made it to Durban. It is a big achievement in itself. And in all the NGO forums they have really outnumbered other delegates and left their impact. At the NGO level the issue of caste has been established, and the international community has realised that casteism is a serious problem in India. Even Koffi Annan had to address the issue in his speech. The Govt. will have to accept the debate someday.
