Is this the “Gujarat model” of development?
AHMEDABAD: A video showing a group of men allegedly beating a Dalit woman and throwing her 8-year-old son like worthless things went viral on social media.
The incident happened on June 8 in Ghantiya village of Gujarat.
The principal of a government school and the deputy Sarpanch of a village have been detained in connection with the assault after the video surfaced on Wednesday. They were booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the woman, Prabha Vala, 30, in her complaint alleged that she have been working in school for the last 10 years as the mid-day meal in-charge.
The principal, Kalubhai Thakrani, want her to leave her job as she is a Dalit. When she refused to accept his demand, she was slapped and throw out.
“I have worked in this school for 10 years. The principal, Kalubhai Thakrani, has attempted to throw me out in the past saying that it is not right for a Dalit to be involved in serving meals. When I refused, they pulled me out and then threw my son out. I got angry and slapped one of the village leaders. After that they all started beating me up. I got numb after a point and all I could hear was ‘aaney mari nakho ( kill her)’, “ Vala told The Indian Express.
Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani posted the video on Twitter. “One year of Una is not far and now this happens in Gujarat. Dalit woman and her kid are thrown around like a rag.”
One year of Una is not far and now this happens in Gujarat. Dalit woman and her kid are thrown around like a rag. pic.twitter.com/DgFOuBbxMT
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) June 14, 2017