KOZHIKODE: An incident in which League workers allegedly carried out a symbolic “purification” by sprinkling water at the Changaroth grama panchayat office after the local body election results has triggered a major political controversy.
The episode reportedly occurred during the victory celebrations after the UDF wrested control of the panchayat from the LDF.
A DYFI protest march was held in front of the Changaroth panchayat office on Tuesday morning against what it termed an uncivilised act in which UDF workers allegedly insulted the Dalit panchayat president.
The UDF recorded a sweeping victory, winning 17 of the 20 wards. The LDF secured only one seat, while the Welfare Party won the remaining two.
CPM has alleged that local League leaders were behind the act, and named Faisal and Subair as those who led it. The party has announced its decision to file a police complaint against the League workers involved.
CPM leaders have also alleged that slogans issuing death threats against individuals identified as Nasser Kolayi and CTC Abdulla were raised during the celebrations.
Reacting strongly to the incident, panchayat president Unni Vengeri said the act amounted to caste-based humiliation.
Speaking to TNIE, Unni said that though the UDF had won in neighbouring panchayats as well, no such “purification” programmes were held anywhere else. He alleged that the act was carried out because he belongs to the Dalit community and said it caused him deep mental distress.
“This is similar to practices seen in parts of North India. It is also an injustice to Dalit communities who voted for UDF,” he said, adding that legal action would be taken and a police complaint would be filed. He further demanded the League leadership to publicly disown the workers responsible for the incident.
Meanwhile, Muslim League panchayat committee president Aneri Naseer responded by denying allegations of caste-based insult. He said that the intention of the workers was to symbolically mark the panchayat’s liberation from what they described as a corrupt administration, and not to target any individual or community.
Naseer alleged that the CPM was deliberately introducing a caste angle into the issue. He said that if Unni had suffered any mental distress, the League was willing to express regret.
He also claimed that clean water sprinkled at the site was being falsely portrayed as cow dung-mixed water. Citing the League’s political history, Naseer said the party had previously helped elect a Dalit woman candidate in Changaroth panchayat and asserted that the Muslim League is not a party that engages in caste-based discrimination.