Yuva Rally as it happened: Jignesh Mevani slams BJP govt over Bhima-Koregaon violence, says India 'facing fascism'

Jignesh Mevani raises pitch against communal forces

Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani said: “I have Manusmriti in one hand and book on Constitution on the other hand. We want to ask all of you — what do you want?”

We are facing fascism: Jignesh Mevani

“There is severe crisis and we haven’t faced so much problem earlier. We are facing fascism. In the last four years in the name of ’love jihad’, ghar wapsi and cow politics, people are suffering. But what about development? What about the rights of adivasis, Dalits and poor? We want these issues to be addressed,” Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani said.

Jignesh Mevani slams BJP govt over atrocities against Dalits

“Because of the way Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mevani crushed BJP’s target of 150 seats in Gujarat, we are being targetted,” said Jignesh Mevani at the Yuva Hunkar rally.

He further said: “Narendra Modi government has to reply why Chandrashekhar Azad is still in jail? Why Bhima-Koregaon incident happened? What happened to 2 crore jobs for the youth? Why farmers in Madhya Pradesh had to die of police bullets? We will raise this question in Gujarat Assembly and on streets across the country.”

Jignesh Mevani addresses gathering

“We believe in the democracy, in the Constitution and its essence. You can attack us, verbally abuse us. Despite that, we will talk about the Constuttion and hum the tune of love,” says Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani.

Akhil Gogoi calls for ‘program’ to strike off Modi government 
“I don’t have much to say as everything as been said. Now we have to make a program to throw away Narendra Modi government. Two crore illegal migrants — Hindu-Bangladeshis — will enter Assam. It will be BJP-RSS vote bank. This is Modi government’s plan for Assam,” Akhil Gogoi said at the gathering.
 
He further added, “North East Industrial investment policy has been scrapped. (There are) Attacks on adivasis, on Assam, on Muslims, on Dalits, on farmers. Where is Achhe Din for us, for women?”

Kanhaiya Kumar assures strikes ’to save democracy’

Speaking at the Yuva Hunkar rally, former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar said:  “We will hold strikes in industries, railways, government departments and everywhere to protest slavery and save democracy.”

Remarks against media common at Yuva Hunkar rally

While addressing the gathering almost all speakers including Shehla Rashid and Kanhaiya Kumar made caustic remarks against the media and journalists. They didn’t bother that it is the same media that is facilitating their voice to reach across the country. But playing the gallery, the speakers didn’t shun from attacking the media.

We are here for Constitution, says Kanhaiya Kumar 

“We don’t want violence. We have no hatred against anyone. We want peace in the society. We are here not against any religion but we are here for Constitution. We want people should have the right to follow his or her religion peaceful. We have been painted as anti-Hindu but our only objective is to save the Constitution,” says former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Bhim Sena president calls for unity against BJP-RSS
 
Ratan Lal, president of Bhim Sena says: “All have congratulated Jigneshbhai (Mevani) but we want to give him responsibility to take up the issues of Dalits. We want from every home a Kanshi Ram takes birth. If we all join hands and fight, RSS-BJP will wet their pants. Today, if a Dalit girl gets raped, police never registers the victim’s complaint.”
 
He adds: “We want our participation in job, in land, in Parliament. We are going to begin a campaign by the Bhim Army to create awareness of our Constitution.”

Empty chairs at gathering; only Dalit groups, student unions present

The gathering has started petering out. The crowd we saw between 12.30 to 2 pm is not there anymore . The common public is missing. Near the dias, only the students unions and Dalit organisation activists are present. 

“The crowd you saw sitting was from adjoining offices which came to have a glimpse during lunch time and some others were passers-by. Now you can see these empty chairs. Only the students unions representatives are here,” a Delhi Police official, who has been on duty since morning, told Firstpost. 

Swami Agnivesh says communal forces suppressing Dalits, adivasis

Swami Agnivesh, who is present at the gathering, tells Firstpost. “Nothing good has been happening with the Dalits, adivasis and downtrodden. Communal forces are in full force, suppressing Dalits and adivasis. There is severe oppression under this government. The hope that the people of this country had when Narendra Modi became prime minister, is now lost. It has turned out to be a big lie. The divisive forces are splitting our society,” he says.

Jignesh Mevani, Akhil Gogoi yet to address gathering

Section 144 imposed in Delhi, says official

A senior official from the Delhi Police told Firstpost that once the rally is over, “FIR will be filed against those who participated in the rally.”

“Permission has not been given to hold this rally but in democracy such rallies and incidents occur almost everyday. If any untoward incident takes place, action will be initiated,” the official, on condition of anonymity, said.

Parliament Street echoes with slogans of ‘Jai Bheem. Inquilab Zindabad’

The stage at the Yuva Hunkar rally is shared by the Left-backed students unions, Dalit organisations, and its students unions.

We want 150 JNUs across India where Dalits can study, says Umar Khalid

Umar Khalid says,“Government wants to shut Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) but we want 150 JNUs should come up across India so that a Dalit from Kalahandi can study there”

Umar Khalid addresses gathering

Speaking at the Yuva Hunkar rally, Umar Khalid says: “Narendra Modi’s bubble has burst. The myth around him is fading. It has been due. We don’t want hatred, we want jobs, peace and growth for the youth. _Manuvadi vichaardhara ko maanne walon ke liye Daliton ka koi jagah nahi hai (_Those who believe in Manuvadi school of thoughts don’t have any space for Dalits). We will fight and avenge the death of Rohith Vemula.”

Supporter calls for ‘strong voice’ for Dalits, adivasis

Varsha, who has come with her friends to attend this rally, wants to identify as an independent voice —  not attached to any political party. She tells Firstpost: “I am here because I support this cause of Dalits. No one — including political parties and government — is paying any heed to the problems being faced by Dalits and adivasis. There is a need for a strong voice for Dalts and adivasis. During elections, nothing is talked about youth and women . It is only tokenism. Frustration is growing among the youth. There is no job opportunity, unemployment is growing. Education getting costlier. Where the poor will go?”

Scene from Yuva Hunkar rally

AISA president slams RSS for ‘hatching conspiracy through proper planning’

Sucheta De, National President of All India Students Association (AISA) told Firstpost: “As 2019 is approaching, RSS is hatching conspiracy across various parts of the country through proper planning and by using anti-Dalit, anti-muslim, anti-women hatred as tool to divide the society. The recent Dalit-Maratha clashes are an example. To divert the Maratha anger who have been suffering due to farmer distress, RSS-BJP played them against the Dalits at Bhima-Koregaon incident. Now farmers, the youth, and Dalits are on streets against hate conspiracy. Narendra Modi government has failed to address these growing anger and hatred. Jignesh Mevani has taken up the cause of Dalits.”

Shehla Rashid accuses Delhi Police of ’lying about cancellation of permission’ for the rally

Only 200-300 supporters show up at rally

According to Times Now, the organisers had claimed that supporters from outside of Delhi would come for the rally. However, only few hundreds of supporters have turned up as Dalits stay away from Jignesh Mevani’s rally.

Crowd hail revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad

Amidst huge sloganeering of ‘Jai Bheem, Jai Bheem’, a large gathering holds images of Chadrashekhar Azad and “demands” his release from jail.

​Watch: Jignesh Mevani says he’s unwell but will go ahead with rally 

Shehla Rashid addresses the crowd

We will expose RSS conspiracy: Shehla Rashid

“Don’t be influenced by media or police information. We will go from Gujarat to Kashmir. We will expose RSS conspiracy. We will update public on our issues and plans,” said Shehla Rashid.

Heavy security in place

The entire stretch from Jantar Mantar to Parliament Street, which is almost 1.5 km, has virtually turned into a fortress with massive security cover all around.

Delhi police and CRP have put barricades all across Parliament Street, and guarded every entry point as security measure. Rally is going on in front of Parliament Street police station.

Heavy security in Delhi despite permission from police being denied

Around 2,000 security personnel, including the paramilitary forces, have been deployed in the national capital in view of the ‘Yuva Hunkaar’ rally spearheaded by Jignesh Mevani.

A senior officer from New Delhi district told PTI that additional forces from other districts of the city have been called in.

The Parliament Street has been fortified and water cannon vehicles have been deployed, he said.

Unhindered, the organisers are making all arrangements for the rally. — PTI

Unfortunate, says Jignesh Mevani

Hindustan Times reports

Akhil Gogoi was charged with sedition and for spreading religious animosity in December last year

Akhil Gogoi, Assam RTI and farmers’ rights activist is expected to address the rally on Parliament Street. 

Gogoi was was arrested on 13 September on charges of sedition and spreading religious animosity. Later, he was re-arrested on 25 September and 12 cases under the NSA were lodged against him in various police stations. Gogoi was arrested after he urged people to take up arms if those belonging to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan were granted Indian citizenship according to provisions of the amended Citizenship Act. 

In December, 2017 the Gauhati high court set aside the detention of Gogoi under provisions of the NSA.

Student leader Shehla Rashid tweets a photo of the rally venue: Says everything is on schedule

JNUSU president Mohit Pandey urges supporters to join Yuva Hunkar Rally

Delhi Police reiterates that no permission has been given for any rally

“Nobody has been given a permission. Since there is an NGT order that no protest can be staged at Jantar Mantar, we have asked organisers to hold the protest at alternate sites like Ramlila Maidan,” Ajay Chaudhary, Joint CP of New Delhi told the media on Tuesday after organisers of Yuva Hunkar Rally said they will go ahead with the rally with or without permission. 

Rally to begin at 12 pm on Parliament Street: Organisers

In a statement, the organisers have urged the prospective participants to “assemble on the Parliament Street at 12 pm today”. The police are getting ready with water cannons and tear gas to control the crowds, say sources.

Yuva Rally to raise demand for release of Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad

The Yuva Hunka Rally seeks to raise the demand for the release of Dalit outfit Bhim Army’s founder Chandrashekhar Azad and emphasis on issues like educational rights, employment, livelihood and gender justice.

A large section of students from universities and colleges in Delhi, women’s groups, teachers’ associations and activists associated with Mevani from across the country are expected to attend the rally.

Azad, 30, was arrested in June last year from Himachal Pradesh as he was the main accused in the Thakur-Dalit clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district.

Police tried to remove Mevani supporters who were paying tribute to Ambedkar

According to reports, Delhi Police were removing Jignesh Mevani and Bhim Army Supporters from Ambedkar Park where Mevani was supposed to pay tribute to Ambedkar before leaving for Parliament street for Hunkar rally.