Violent mob protests have spread across Gujarat triggered with the issue of Dalits getting hit by the so called ‘cow-vigilantes’ in the state. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited a family of Dalits where four youth, accused of cow slaughter, were brutally thrashed on July 11. He announced a Rs 5 lakh assistance for the family. He met the victims of the Una incident and members of their family in Rajkot at a civil hospital. After arriving in Gujarat Rahul went the house in the village called, Samadhiyala and spent quite some time with the family. He met Jitu, a young engineering student, who told the media that in the absense of proper work avenues, Dalit youth like him has to be engaged in the skinning businnes which is present in tanneries.
Gujarat affairs in-charge Gurudas Kamat was also present, along with Bharatsinh Solanki, Congress president in the state and Kumari Selja, the Dalit leader. Rahul Gandhi met the victims and their families and later briefed the media in Rajkot. He said, “This is a fight between 2 ideologies. Gandhiji, Nehruji, Sardar Patel ji, BR Ambedkarji on a side and RSS, Modiji on the other-Rahul Gandhi.” He added that while Narendra Modi makes a big talk of the Gujarat model, but if anyone in the state, especially dalits, make a demand for education rights, and fight against big corporates, the voices are suppressed.
(with agency inputs)