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Even though Dalits make up about 16.6% of unborn child subsequently passed away. On
the population, they are not treated on par the same day, a Dalit girl was severely
with the “upper-caste”. beaten up by Jats. This was not the first time
criticism has been borne on the newly
With the massive win for the BJP in the appointed chief minister. In early 2017 the
2014 Indian General Elections, Dalits were Adityanath government was accused of
hopeful that this would be a change in the practicing untouchability, as reports
tides for their dreams of an equal India. suggested that the state administration
However, the situation didn’t seem to distributed shampoo and soap to several
improve, with things looking even more Dalit families before they were expected to
bleak for the Dalit community. In Gujarat have a public meeting with the chief
itself, the common lynching of Dalits has minister.
rocked the entire nation, but government
officials don’t acknowledge the magnitude In the past couple of years, cow vigilantism
of the situation.“Gujarat is among states that has been on the rise. Ever since the Prime
witness minimum Dalit atrocities,” Minister’s movement to protect cows and
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit the beef ban in many states, violence has
Shah said on September 10, 2017, while risen to insurmountable levels. The
addressing a youth town hall meeting in perpetrators are self appointed “cow
Ahmedabad. But government records protectors” who have given themselves the
present a different picture. Most recently a authority to enforce justice. Since 2015,
Dalit man was lynched by members of the there have been numerous cases of assault
“upper caste” for seeing people do the garba and even murder against Dalits and also
(a traditional Gujarati dance). These types of Muslims. Since Dalits have menial jobs
senseless and inhuman acts are not a rarity such as the skinning or disposal of cattle
in Gujarat and many other states. carcasses for commercial purposes, they
have had to bear the brunt of the vigilantes.
It is estimated that a crime against a Dalit is In July of 2016, four Dalit men were beaten
committed every 18 minutes. Just recently, up with sticks and belts while being tied to a
in Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh, an car. This occurred in Gujarat, where they
eight-month pregnant Dalit women was were assaulted in suspicion of cow
beaten by a mother-son duo because she slaughter. Cases such as assault, harassment,
touched their bucket. The woman and her threats and even money extortion are a daily
