Udupi: Dalit meeting at DC Office cancelled in bizarre manner

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 15 September 2011: The meeting which was suppose to take place after 3 – 4 years on the issues of the Dalits in the district, got cancelled in a bizarre manner. Deputy commissioner who was to host the meeting gave the reason that the meeting had to be cancelled for the presence of the press reporters in the meeting, because of whom the tussle took place between the Dalit groups!.
 
Before the meeting could start, Deputy commissioner Dr. M.T. Reju instructed that this is Officer’s meeting, so there is no entry for the press reporters. But the press reporters established their right to remain there as they had sat in the earlier meetings of Dalits. Some of the Dalit leaders who were looking for the publicity started talking in support of the media representatives. But ignoring them Deputy Commissioner showed the door to the media representatives.

 

 
At that time District Dalit Sangharsha Samiti Convener Jayan Malpe came forward and spoke supporting the media representatives, which received strong opposition from the rear side. Jayan is a Bank government employee, so he cannot participate in the meeting, strongly said Dasamsa (Bheemavada) state unit convener Uday Kumar Tallur. With this the high drama between these two group took place.
 
Supporting Jayan Dasamsa (Ambedkarvada) leader teacher Hoovappa master, Bank employee Sundara, Dasamsa (Prof. Krishnavada) convener Shekara Hejmadi, Dalita Samata sainika dal Baskar Petri and others began to talk. With tens of people speaking loudly at the same time, the meeting was like a market place. They started accusing using the flow of words such as roll call, black mail, bribe, corrupt, cheater of Dalit etc.
 
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Reju, SP Dr. Ravikumar, AC Sadashiva Prabhu and other officers silently watched the drama. At that time the issue of whether the media persons are to be present in the meeting or not was forgotten. Media persons too penned the drama between Dalits on the papers. At one stage the situation reached such that the groups supporting Jayan and opposing were to have tussle. Then SP and DC came down and controlled the situation.
 
Finally they accused that because of the media representatives the Dalit leaders have behaved like this, and they left by cancelling the meeting. Dalith groups who came out continued their argument outside, they even began to push each other. Police separated the groups and took them away. The issues of Dalits were not resolved, but with the meeting it was proved that the difference between Dalits is not just on their opinions but it is the personal conflicts of their leaders.
 
Deputy commissioner speaking to the media persons said that, reporters should not participate in the meetings of the Officers, there is a government circular on this. This is not just being implemented in Udupi, but is being implemented in the whole country. So the media representatives cannot participate in the meetings of Dalit issues, he said.
 
D.C. did not agree the argument of the media persons that the issues of the Dalits is not just Officer’s meeting and the meeting being attended by the Dalits is a public meeting. On the contrary D.C. accused that because the media representatives came to the meeting the Dalits have faught with each other.
 
During the development - inspection government officers meetings there are situations of the People’s representatives – public taking expostulation on the officers. If this is reported in the media it will embarrass the officers. For this reason the media persons should not participate in these meetings, finally Deputy commissioner revealed the real reason.