|
In a surprising development, Dalits of an interior naxalite-affected Lingampet village of Chandurthi mandal in Karimnagar district, Andhra Pradesh have boycotted a section of an Upper Caste community for reportedly abusing them and continuing the age-old practice of feudalism. The village, 60 km from Karimnagar town, is dominated by Dalits and a majority of them have migrated to the Gulf and become economically sound. Earlier it was the Upper Caste community that had dominated in the village. However following the naxalite presence, a majority of Upper Caste people have migrated to safer places and only a few have been staying in the village. Recently when a person belonging to the Upper Caste community died, Dalits were called to perform the funeral. When the Dalits went late, some of the Upper Caste people reportedly abused them. However they maintained patience and performed the rituals and waited till the end of Dasara festival. After the festival, the Dalits informed the matter to village sarpanch G Sathaiah and urged him to conduct a `panchayat' to settle the issue. The sarpanch called for a panchayat and invited all community leaders, including those of the Upper Caste. However the Upper Caste people, who `abused' the Dalits, abstained from the meeting. Irked over this, the Dalits made it clear that they would not perform any ritual in the village. The Dalits passed a resolution stating that they would not attend any function of Upper Caste people and also stop working in their fields. Village ex-sarpanch Laxmi Rajam said, "There is no question of compromising on the issue. We will continue to boycott the Upper Caste people. We have our own fields and will not work for them in the village." (Source: The Hindu)
|
News 
