Dr Ambedkar’s Death Anniversary: Odisha’s Minority Organisations Demand Upholding Of Right To Freedom & Speech

Bhawanipatna: On the occasion of the 63^rd Death Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar members of various organisations expressed concern over rising atrocities and held a meeting in front of the collectorate, Kalahandi on Friday.

The executive members submitted a memorandum with a seven-point charter of demands to the Collector, Parag Harshad Gavali addressed to the President of India.

The speakers alleged while JNU students were on a peaceful rally, police lathi charged them following government instruction.

State co-ordinator of SC, ST, OBC & Religious Minorities, Sangram Samiti, Kalahandi, Satyabadi Naik alleged that police attacked the students by violating Article 19, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom to assemble peacefully without arms.

“None of the students of JNU was holding any arms rather they were raising their voice against fee hike but police brutally lathi charged them,” he said.

An advocate, Chhabilal Nial, said if government’s attitude towards Bahujan Samaj remains the same, then the purpose of Article 21 A and 41 “Right to Education”, Article 45 “Free and compulsory education” and Article 46 “Promotion of education and economic interest” will remain meaningless.

One of the demands was that any students’ rally, public procession or grievance petition should be addressed in a positive way. Among the other demands were, allotment of a shop complex to  SC, ST and OBCs and Budgetary provision of allotments for them.

Members of BSP BAMCEF, Sambidhan Sachetan Abhijan, AIMBSCS Democratic, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Foundation for Socio-Economic and Cultural Development also spoke on the occasion.