protests

Uproar in Parliament over attack on dalits in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties in Parliament raised the assault on Dalit youth in Gujarat’s Una and the tension that has gripped parts of the state over the past two days. The move comes after Dalit organisations in Gujarat called for the protests to spread beyond the Saurashtra region.The Congress gave notice over the issue in the Lok Sabha, the AAP moved for adjournment to discuss the matter.Opposition parties also raised slogans and protested in the Rajya Sabha, forcing an adjournment. Congress, BSP, TMC and JDU were among the parties that protested in the Upper House.Tension gripped parts of Saurashtra after a viral video showed four youth from Dalit communities being lined up and beaten from behind. The violence had allegedly been retribution against the youth, who had been accused of killing a cow and skinning it. The four young men had claimed that they had only skinned a cow that had died of natural causes.Two people were killed in thethat hit the region on Tuesday – one police constable who died of injuries sustained during stone pelting by the protesters and one man who allegedly committed suicide over the issue. Police officials in the area however claimed the suicide death was unrelated to the protests.A number of protesters however did attempt to commit suicide over the issue. Dalit organisations also called for the protests to be expanded across the state, even as Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel appealed for calm.(With inputs from agencies)