Prominent Dalit leaders on Wednesday protested against some miscreants who allegedly garlanded statues of the social activists and anti-caste reformers, Jyotirao Phulle and Krantijyoti Savitri Bai Phulle, with shoes at Chack Dessa Village in Kathua district few days back.
Under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Dalit Chetna Manch, the community leaders gathered outside the Press Club of Jammu and shouted slogans against the alleged dishonour of the statues.
Sham Lal Basson, the president of the manch said, “It was not an ordinary incident, it was a national shame. Jyotirao Phulle and Krantijyoti Savitri Bai Phulle’s contribution in the education sector cannot be forgotten. The later was the first woman teacher of this country. The couple opened the first girl school in this country.”
“By garlanding the statues of Jyotirao Phulle and Krantijyoti Savitri Bai Phulle with shoes, the miscreants have not only disrespected the Dalits but every citizen of this country,” he said.
Basson asked the miscreants to dig into the history to know the contribution of both the leaders.
“The miscreants who dishonoured the statues are ignorant about history of this couple. They have ashamed the whole country. They have hurt the sentiments of people of this country in general and SC, ST and OBCs in particular,” he said.
He requested the deputy commission and SSP Kathua to take serious note of the dishonour of the statues and put the culprits behind the bars.
Besides All Jammu and Kashmir Dalilt Chetna Manch, the other organisations who took part in protest were All Jammu and Kashmir Gardi Mahasabha, Savitiri Bai Phule Mahila Sangathan, All Jammu and Kashmir Mahasha Sadhar Sabha, All Jammu and Kashmir Valmiki Sadhar Sabha, Saryara Sabha Bahu Fort, All Jammu and Kashmir Mehg Sudhar Sabha, All Jammu and Kashmir SC/ST Retired Employees Association, All Jammu and Kashmir Bhagat Maha Sabha, Sarayra Sabha (City), GRDS Akhnoor, All India Backward classes Union, All Jammu and Kashmir Mazdoor Dastkar Union, SGRDS Channi Himmat and others organisations.