KOPPAL: In shocking instances of social boycott of Dalits across north Karnataka, candidates belonging to the upper castes are refraining from seeking their support during the ongoing Gram Panchayat elections. In one such episode, Dalits of Kalalbandi, a village in Kushtagi taluk of Koppal district, narrated their woes to deputy commissioner R.R. Jannu, who was stunned, but could do little as none could force candidates to seek the support of a particular community.
“We too have Gram Panchayat elections in our village. But none of the candidates is seeking our votes. This has pained us a lot. Instead of suffering every time, we feel that it is better to go away from the village permanently”, they lamented during his visit to the village on Friday to sort out differences between people belonging to upper castes and Dalits. Dalits alleged that government officials and elected representatives have not put in honest efforts to re-unite these clashing groups.
“So far, candidates in the fray, whether they are from the upper caste or Dalit community, have not sought votes of other communities. Apart from upper caste candidates, even non-Dalit candidates too have not approached for votes.There is one seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes, and we will seek their (upper caste) votes”, said an aged Dalit resident of Kalalbandi.
Following the social boycott of Dalits by people belonging to upper castes, a government-run fair price shop was shifted from the Dalits colony, and land earmarked for Dalits has been fenced till peace returns in the village. Though security has been provided to Dalits after such a social boycott, differences between people belonging to two communities have not been sorted out. Some villagers, however, charged that people belonging to the upper castes were harassed by some Dalits by foisting cases of atrocities against them.
“Seeking the vote of a person in the election will make the candidate accountable to the voter after winning the election. Here, upper caste candidates do not want to be accountable to Dalits after the elections. Hence, upper caste and non-Dalit candidates have decided not to seek the votes of Dalits thereby, politically ostracise them in the village”, said one of them.
