Maharashtra, in fact India, is sitting on a tinderbox of caste feuds and the fuse has been lit. As Dalit anger spills out on the streets, the state has been brought to a standstill, and reports coming from the interiors attest that the bandh called by Dalit groups has been largely successful. Even in terms of Lok Sabha elections, the Dalits have a clout in 10 to 12 seats. This explains why the Congress and the NCP are running on overdrive squarely blaming “right-wing elements” for the escalation of violence in the state. In the run-up to the elections in 2019, this could be the first step in effectively polarizing the Maharashtrian polity.

Source: dna January 04, 2018 02:26 UTC