Why atrocities on Dalits, minorities, farmers? Mevani to PM in Delhi rally

Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking why atrocities were being committed against Dalits, minorities and farmers in India and charged the BJP and RSS with instigating anti-Dalit violence in Bhima Koregaon in Maharasthra.

"The way in which Hardik (Patel), Alpesh (Thakore) and Jignesh (Mevani) with the support of the youth in Gujarat brought the BJP down from over 150 seats (target set by BJP in Gujarat) to 99 seats... That is the reason we are being targetted," Mevani told his Yuva Hunkar rally in New Delhi.

"And this is the reason why the people of the (Rashtriya Swayamsewak) Sangh and BJP spread violence in Bhima Koregaon," he said, referring to the violence that broke out in Bhima Koregaon near Pune last week in which one person lost his life and several vehicles were damaged.

The rally for which the Delhi Police had originally denied permission was held at Jantar Mantar, a short distance from Parliament House in central Delhi. But Mevani and his supporters shelved plans to take out a procession to the Prime Minister's Office.

The newly elected MLA also said that when he fought elections in Gujarat he always spoke about bringing people together.

"Throughout the election campaign, we said that for 22 years the BJP followed the politics of division, while we always spoke about binding people together," he said. "We don't follow love-jihad."

"We only talk about love and harmony. We will celebrate April 14 and Valentine's Day too," he said.

Referring to the violence that marked the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune last week, he asked: "Why the violence took place in Bhima Koregaon?

"I don't have to answer it but you have to answer me... This you have to answer why Rs 15 lakh didn't come in everyone's account, why no jobs to youth? Why farmers were shot dead in Mandsaur? Why no justice to the Una Dalit victims? Why Najeeb Ahmed went missing? Why Rohit Vemula died? We'll ask all these questions from you, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji."

Maharashtra bandh: Loss of over Rs 7 bn as protests put brakes on business

MAHARASHTRA BAND - Business houses in Maharashtra are counting their losses after a day-long bandh brought the state to a grinding halt on Wednesday.

While revenue loss from the shutdown is pegged at over Rs 7 billion, the larger worry is that the incident will adversely impact travel and trade in the state.

Buses and trains were halted and hotels and shops forced to down shutters, paralysing business activity around the state, in a bandh to protest the attack on the Dalit community in Pune district.

ALSO READ: Maharashtra bandh: Over 30 cops injured, 300 persons detained in Mumbai

"We have lost nearly Rs 1 billion worth of business in the past two days in Mumbai. There have been cancellations and the business cycle has got disrupted," said Dilip Datwani, vice-president of Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Associations of India. The city has over 7,000 hotels and restaurants.

Malls, which attract around 25,000 footfalls a day, were deserted till evening. Cinema halls did not see much of a business impact as business is generally thin during weekdays. Further, there were no new movie releases.

However, small establishments suffered the most. "There are around 3.5 million trade licence holders in the state. Even if we assume Rs 2,000 loss for each of them, the total revenue loss due to the bandh is Rs 7 billion. This is a good season for retailers due to weddings and foreign tourist arrivals. It is the second negative incident after the Kamala Mills fire and trade and tourism in the city is bound to be affected," said Viren Shah, president of Federation of Retail Trade Welfare Association.