Rajasthan Congress MLA Pana Chand Meghwal Resigns Over 'Atrocities' On Dalits

Pana Chand Meghwal, MLA from Baran-Atru constituency, said he does not have the right to stay as an MLA if he cannot protect the rights of his community.

Rajasthan Congress MLA Pana Chand Meghwal tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, saying Dalits and those from deprived communities were being subjected to "atrocities and torture". Meghwal, MLA from Baran-Atru constituency, said he does not have the right to stay as an MLA if he cannot protect the rights of his community, PTI reported.

"I am deeply hurt by the death of 9-year-old Dalit student in Jalore and I am tendering my resignation. Dalits and deprived communities are being subjected to constant atrocities and torture," ANI quoted Meghwal as syaing.

Last week, a Dalit boy died after being allegedly beaten by a school teacher in Jalore for touching a drinking water pot. 

Nine-year-old Indra Kumar was beaten up in the school on July 20. He died during treatment at a hospital in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Saturday. The accused teacher, Chail Singh, 40, has been arrested. The state government has announced a relief of Rs 5 lakh for the boy's family.

"When we fail to protect the rights of our community...we have no right to remain on the post. After listening to my inner voice, I resign from the post of the MLA, so that I can serve the community without any position," the MLA said his resignation letter.

Meghwal said even though the country was celebrating 76th Independence Day, atrocities on Dalits and the other deprived classes continue.

"I am hurt looking at the atrocities. I cannot express my pain in words, the way my community is being tortured," he said.

"Dalits are being killed for drinking water from a pot, sporting a moustache or riding a mare during a wedding. The judicial process is stalled and case files are passed from one table to the other. Cases of atrocities against Dalits are on the rise in the last few years. It seems there is no one to protect the rights of Dalits given by the Constitution," Meghwal said in his letter to CM Gehlot.

"In most of the cases lodged by Dalits, the police submit the final report. Many a times, I have raised such cases in the state assembly but no action was taken by the police," PTI quoted Meghwal as saying.