Gujarat: Dalit outfits seek ouster of ADGP for ‘misbehaving’ with Jignesh Mevani

They have also sought an apology from Pandian.

On October 15, Mevani had gone to meet Pandian to discuss issues of Dalits in Gujarat, including the alleged encroachments on land parcels allotted to Dalits under Agricultural Land Ceiling Act in Kutch district.

Later, Mevani alleged that Pandian misbehaved with him while asking him to keep his mobile phone outside the chamber. Mevani then reportedly sought to know the legal provision under which Pandian was asking them to keep their cell phones outside the chamber.

In his letter, Mevani stated, “Hearing this, he (Pandian) got agitated and pointed his staff to take the mobile phones while stating that (we) might be recording.”

Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, Gujarat state convener of RDAM Subodh Kumud said that the alleged arrogant behaviour of Pandian when Mevani, a Dalit MLA, went to meet him is intolerable.

“Pandian wanted the mobile phone outside the chamber. What is he doing in the chamber that he is scared of being recorded?” Kumud asked. He added that the government has given Pandian a responsibility to listen to the problems of Dalits in Gujarat.

“If he is behaving this way with an elected representative, imagine what would he do to common Dalits,” Kumud added.
Kumud said that “if the government does not remove him from the charge of ADGP (SC/ST Cell) in next 24 hours” then,

“Dalits will show their strength by campaigning against BJP in the upcoming bypoll of Vav assembly constituency and in the general assembly elections of Maharashtra.”

Kumud also said that a delegation of Dalits is going to meet Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Director General of Police on October 23.

When contacted, ADGP Pandian refused to comment on the matter.