As the rest of the country celebrated India’s 70th Independence Day, Una roared with dalit pride and strength.
The 10-day #ChaloUna march from Ahmedabad reached its destination on Monday and culminated in a large gathering in Una. Radhika Vemula, Rohith Vemula’s mother and Una Dalit victims unfurled the national flag at the gathering.
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In his speech, Jignesh Mevani, who has led the 10-day march, demanded discussion on land allotment for dalits in the Gujarat Assembly on 22 August and said that if the demands are not met, the agitation will continue with greater intensity. Taking on the Gujarat government, he said that if demands of giving 5 acre land to dalits are not met, he will start a ‘rail roko’ agitation. Kanhaiya Kumar also addressed the gathering.
The 10-day long, 350 km march from Ahemdabad to Una was initiated in a bid to mobilise the Dalit community against the flogging of four Dalit men in Una who were stripped and beaten on false charges of cow slaughter.