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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Tired of Persecution By 'Gau Rakshaks', Rajasthan's Banjaras Are Raising Their Voice -Paras Banjara, Nikhil Dey and Cheryl D'souza

Tired of Persecution By 'Gau Rakshaks', Rajasthan's Banjaras Are Raising Their Voice -Paras Banjara, Nikhil Dey and Cheryl D'souza

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published Published on Oct 24, 2016   modified Modified on Oct 25, 2016
-TheWire.in

For a community that trades in oxen, the rise in cow vigilantism has meant a loss of livelihood. Continued apathy from the state hasn’t helped.

Rajasmand, Rajasthan:
Dadri, Una and now Railmangra. How many more? Emboldened by their proximity to state power and riding the wave of religious fanaticism, self-appointed gau rakshaks have unleashed terror across the country. For communities that deal with cattle in any form, it has rapidly brought things to a boiling point, affecting the entire social fabric of an area and community – with implications far beyond.

For the Banjara community that trades in oxen, cow vigilantes have brought their livelihood to the brink of collapse. A recent incident in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan brought matters to a head.

In the early hours of October 4, a truck carrying bullocks purchased by Banjaras in a government organised cattle fair was waylaid by Bajrang Dal goons in Bhama Kheda (Garasiyon Ka Kheda) village of Railmangra block. The vigilantes accused the Banjaras of taking the cattle for slaughter and demanded money to let the truck go. But when their bid for extortion was refused, they vandalised the truck, severely beat up the Banjaras, brandished weapons and made off with the damaged truck and the bullocks.

This hooliganism drew local support for the Banjaras and the Bajrang Dal leader was caught and handed over to the police. As Banjaras from surrounding areas began to gather at the police thana, the truck and the cattle were traced and brought back. By noon the next day, an FIR was lodged.

A historic protest

This attack and the reaction proved to be a turning point that brought together this nomadic community in southern Rajasthan to face the continued acts of indignity against them. Tired of constant fear, harassment and extortion related to their occupation, and exclusion in their social lives, the Banjara community awoke in a collective assertion for dignity and human rights.

For years, the community has been subjected to attacks by cow vigilante groups belonging to various extremist Hindutva outfits. The most recent attack galvanised the community to organise themselves into the Banajara Vikas Shakti Sanghatan, under the leadership of a young social activist from the community. With slogans like “Bail bechna Banjaron ki pahachan – humara adhikar, humara sangarsh! (Selling oxen is part of the Banjara identity – our right, our struggle)”, over 1,000 Banjaras gathered for a historic rally and public hearing on the rights of the community. The hearing was a cultural protest to assert their unique indigenous identity and a political protest to demand protection for their life and livelihood. Organised on the grounds outside the old collectorate at Rajasmand on October 18, this historic gathering was supported by rights-based movements and organisations from across the country, placing the Banjara community’s struggle within the larger struggle against Hindutva vigilante groups in the country.

Please click here to read more.

TheWire.in, 24 October, 2016, http://thewire.in/75364/gau-raksha-banjara/


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