Madhya Pradesh government pulled up over Dalit discrimination

BHOPAL - The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued notices to Madhya Pradesh in four different cases related to alleged discrimination against Dalits, sources say.

The panel, which was in the state last week on a fact-finding mission, has asked the government to furnish replies within 15 days, the sources said.

NCSC chairman Buta Singh and its member Mahendra Boudh had visited Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s native village following media reports that Dalits were not allowed entry into the temples there.

“Though the Dalits were seen worshipping with others when we visited the temple, they left the moment we left the place,” Singh said. He said the show of worshipping was stage-managed by the government.

Singh accused the Madhya Pradesh government of denying Dalits their fundamental right by recruiting general category candidates to fill the backlog of vacancies reserved for Dalits.

He also said the Dalit sarpanch of Shahganj village in Sehore, Santosh Ahirwar, was removed on flimsy grounds after he had won.

“Besides, Dalits have been denied their adequate share of representation in the rural civic bodies in the state,” Singh said.

The NCSC has issued notices in matters relating to atrocities against Dalits and their discrimination in promotion and recruitment, the sources say.

The first case relates to a complaint filed by a family in Chouhan’s native village that says they are facing harassment from the villagers and are not allowed to enter the temples. In this case, a notice has been served on the Sehore collector and superintendent of police.

In the second case, the notice has been served to Sehore police superintendent and the Director General of Police in relation to filing an FIR in Kharjana village. The third notice has been issued to the Sehore collector and Shahganj Nagar Palika secretary in connection with the removal of a Dalit sarpanch who had won.

Similarly, the fourth notice has been served on the chief secretary for allegedly violating constitutional provisions and recruiting people from the general category against seats reserved for Scheduled Castes.