Poona: The notorious “Poona Pact of 1932, which was described by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as the “declaration of war on Untouchables by Gandhi & Congress Party”. was burnt in different parts of India by dalits and their minority comrades on Sept. 24. The president of the BAMCEF launched the agitation here at a public meeting. Speakers there said the Pact was a death blow to the dalits by denying them the separate electorate. The existing system of “reserved constituencies produced a set of corrupt “Harijan” leaders who spent all their time licking the shoes of the high caste Hindus. Kanshi Ram, president of the BAMCEF, said he would organise public meetings in different parts of the country to expose the Hindu humbug in the Poona Pact. At Hyderabad. dalits organised a public meeting under the organisation. Poona Pact Golden Jubilee Committee, and demanded that the decision on separate electorate should be left to the dalits and minorities. An agitation to demand a referendum on the issue should be launched by dalits with the help of minorities all over India. It demanded scrapping of the existing system of reserved constituencies for SC/STS, Speakers exposed the “Hindu conspiracy” behind the Poona Pact Similar meetings, processions were held in Kerala. Karnataka. Tamil Nadu etc, Hindu temples anti-poor?: The Madras High Court has admitted a writ petition filed by some Tamil Nadu Brahmins challenging the TN State govt, collection of money from out of the funds of Govt-managed temples to be used for the mid-day meal scheme that is meant for the poem school children.
First Dalit Chief Justice: Justice Bhimiah has been appointed Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court making him the first dalit to hold this post in India. Hai- led as the ablest judge in the High Court. this position was denied to him three times by Brahmins. Lingayats & Vokkaligas who dominated the Bench.
Dalit Ministers’ Plight: Dharma Das Shastri. Cong. I MP, told newsmen in Delhi that “Harijan” Ministers were given useless portfolios in India. No dalit was given any key position in the Delhi police though there were several merited dalit IPS officers. In the entire Delhi Adm. no dalit was given any key post. (Statesman, Sept. 18)
RSS bid to oust Shudra leader RSS that controls the BJP is trying to oust the non-Brahmin president of its Karnataka State unit. A. K. Subbiah. RSS did not like his taking action against certain corrupt R.S.S. men in his party. It is also jealous of his growing popularity. According to reports such a Brahmin-non-Brahmin struggle is developing even inside the all-India BJP headed by A. B. Vajpayee, an RSS Brahmin
Moradabad heading for fresh trouble: The Indian Express (Sept. 29) says Moradabad, which staged one of the worst communal riots in 1980. is heading for fresh trouble. Serious tension is prevailing with the discovery of several bodies. RSS is indulging in rumour-mongering and trying its best to start a fresh riot.
