Date:03/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120304590800.htm

National

Dalits stick to rally plan

Special Correspondent

CM wants it postponed

MUMBAI: Dalit parties, mostly RPI factions, on Saturday rejected the Maharashtra Government's appeal to postpone their December 4 protest rally in Nagpur.They stuck to their guns at an all-party meeting called here by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Fragile peace

He appealed to the Dalits to hold the rally after December 6, death anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar, in view of the fragile peace in the State.

The Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP supports the rally, which coincides with the opening of the winter session of the Legislature in Nagpur.

Later, briefing reporters on the outcome of the meeting, held in the wake of Statewide disturbances following desecration of an Ambedkar statue in Kanpur, Mr. Deshmukh said the Dalit leaders wanted to have wider consultations with their colleagues before making any promise. He said he was hopeful that his plea would be considered favourably as all demands by the Dalits in connection with the Khairlanji killings had been accepted.

"Not all demands conceded"

But Jogendra Kawade, MLC and leader of the People's Republican Party, said not all demands were accepted. One of them was the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil, who holds the Home portfolio.

"We actually want the dismissal of the Deshmukh Government and imposition of President's rule," Prof. Kawade told The Hindu later.

The Dalit leaders warned that any attempt to ban the rally would be counter-productive. Other Dalit leaders who attended the meeting included Ramdas Athavale, Sulekha Kumbhar, Rajendra Gavai, Arjun Dangle and Gangadhar Ghade.