On the second day of his Navsarjan Yatra in poll-bound Gujarat, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-adds-to-long-list-of-gaffes-20108">Rahul Gandhi</a> addressed the assembly seats in&nbsp;Jamnagar, Rajkot and Morbi.&nbsp;

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Congress VP Rahul Gandhi begins day 2 of Navsarjan Yatra from Jamnagar, after a successful first day. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%AA%AF%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%BE_%E0%AA%B0%E0%AB%8B%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%97%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B0_%E0%AA%96%E0%AB%87%E0%AA%A1%E0%AB%82%E0%AA%A4_%E0%AA%85%E0%AA%A7%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%95%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B0?src=hash">#????_??????_?????_??????</a> <a href="https://t.co/48JhBI7vGY">pic.twitter.com/48JhBI7vGY</a>
&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/912531893693718528">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi said the state government should run from Gujarat and not from Delhi.

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State government should run from Gujarat and not Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat&#39;s Khijadiya
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912558432502214656">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Taking a jibe at the central government, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/twitter-reacts-to-rahul-gandhis-artificial-intelligence-learning-19926">Rahul Gandhi </a>said the present government in Gujarat is being controlled through &quot;a remote control from Delhi&quot;.

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Aajkal Gujarat ki sarkar remote control se chalti hai, Delhi se chalti hai: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat <a href="https://t.co/WSa26ydGPP">pic.twitter.com/WSa26ydGPP</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912565296921157632">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Referring to the &#39;Make in India&#39; initiative, the Congress vice-president said that it is &quot;shameful that&nbsp;the &#39;Statue of Unity&#39; is being &#39;made in China&#39;.&quot;&nbsp;

The grand statue of unity is a tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel and is under construction in Gujarat.&nbsp;

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Sardar Patel ji ki murti ban rahi hai,aur wo bhi China me ban rahi hai.Uske peechey &#39;made in China&#39; likha hua hai,sharm ki baat hai-R Gandhi <a href="https://t.co/Zbaasjza0T">pic.twitter.com/Zbaasjza0T</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912580454099718151">September 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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( Also&nbsp;Read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-takes-a-dig-at-modi-after-bhu-clash-20648">Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi after BHU clash</a> )

The Congress vice-president is on a three-day visit to Gujarat.&nbsp;He began his first day on Monday by offering prayers at Dwarkadhish temple in Dwaraka followed by an address to the party workers and villagers in Bhatia village in Jamnagar district.

Taking a jibe at the central government, Rahul Gandhi said that the present government in Gujarat runs from a remote control from Delhi

On the second day of his Navsarjan Yatra in poll-bound Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi addressed the assembly seats in Jamnagar, Rajkot and Morbi. Congress VP Rahul Gandhi begins day 2 of Navsarjan Yatra from Jamnagar, after a successful first day. #????_??????_?????_?????? pic.twitter.com/48JhBI7vGY — Congress (@INCIndia) September 26, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi said the state government should run from Gujarat and not from Delhi. State government should run from Gujarat and not Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat's Khijadiya — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × Taking a jibe at the central government, Rahul Gandhi said the present government in Gujarat is being controlled through "a remote control from Delhi". Aajkal Gujarat ki sarkar remote control se chalti hai, Delhi se chalti hai: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat pic.twitter.com/WSa26ydGPP — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × Referring to the 'Make in India' initiative, the Congress vice-president said that it is "shameful that the 'Statue of Unity' is being 'made in China'." The grand statue of unity is a tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel and is under construction in Gujarat. Sardar Patel ji ki murti ban rahi hai,aur wo bhi China me ban rahi hai.Uske peechey 'made in China' likha hua hai,sharm ki baat hai-R Gandhi pic.twitter.com/Zbaasjza0T — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017 × ( Also Read: Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Modi after BHU clash ) The Congress vice-president is on a three-day visit to Gujarat. He began his first day on Monday by offering prayers at Dwarkadhish temple in Dwaraka followed by an address to the party workers and villagers in Bhatia village in Jamnagar district.

Gujarat government on remote control: Rahul Gandhi

Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pavak intercepted and apprehended a Merchant Vessel carrying approximately 1,500 kilos of heroin&nbsp;valued at about 3500 Crore off the coast of Gujarat.

Based on intelligence inputs, the vessel was intercepted at around 12:00 hrs on July 29.&nbsp;

This is the largest single haul of narcotics seized till date,&nbsp;Indian navy spokesman D.K.Sharma said in a statement.

After being intercepted off the Gujarat coast,&nbsp;the vessel was brought to the coastal city of Porbandar on Sunday, the statement said.

Joint investigation of the vessel by the ICG, IB, Police, Customs, Navy and other agencies is currently underway.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: ICG Ship apprehended Merchant Vessel carrying approx 1500 kgs of heroin valued at about ?3500 crores off the coast of Gujarat. <a href="https://t.co/FB5YXlx4ju">pic.twitter.com/FB5YXlx4ju</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/891571983539781632">July 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Based on intelligence inputs, a Merchant Vessel carrying 1,500 kilos of heroine was intercepted at around 12:00 hrs on July 29

Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pavak intercepted and apprehended a Merchant Vessel carrying approximately 1,500 kilos of heroin valued at about 3500 Crore off the coast of Gujarat. Based on intelligence inputs, the vessel was intercepted at around 12:00 hrs on July 29. This is the largest single haul of narcotics seized till date, Indian navy spokesman D.K.Sharma said in a statement. After being intercepted off the Gujarat coast, the vessel was brought to the coastal city of Porbandar on Sunday, the statement said. Joint investigation of the vessel by the ICG, IB, Police, Customs, Navy and other agencies is currently underway. #WATCH: ICG Ship apprehended Merchant Vessel carrying approx 1500 kgs of heroin valued at about ?3500 crores off the coast of Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/FB5YXlx4ju — ANI (@ANI_news) July 30, 2017 ×

Heroin worth Rs 35,000 crore seized off Gujarat coast

A Woman gave birth to a baby in an ambulance surrounded by a pride of lions in Gir forest area in Gujarat. It was after midnight when the woman was being taken for delivery near Lunsapur village in Jafrabad taluka of Amreli.

It was about three kilometre from the village, the woman was in great pain and they were surrounded by dozens of lions so it was decided to deliver the baby in the vehicle. &nbsp;

Chetan Gadhia, district head of the 108 emergency ambulance service of Amreli said, &quot;The staff stopped the ambulance and waited for lions to leave. But that did not happen. The staff contacted our physician over phone and gave details of delivery. The delivery took about 25 minutes, and the entire time the lions were moving around the ambulance,&quot;

Apparently, this is not the first time when an incident like this&nbsp;happened. The paramedics of 108 emergency ambulance have crossed their paths with lions earlier as well. The staff is now trained to face any such encounters.

Watch the video to know more.

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Amreli(Gujarat): Woman delivered baby in an ambulance surrounded by a pride of lions <a href="https://t.co/X5oYZ45vNL">pic.twitter.com/X5oYZ45vNL</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/881340865737768960">July 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Baby delivered in an ambulance near Gir forest area in Gujarat

A Woman gave birth to a baby in an ambulance surrounded by a pride of lions in Gir forest area in Gujarat. It was after midnight when the woman was being taken for delivery near Lunsapur village in Jafrabad taluka of Amreli. It was about three kilometre from the village, the woman was in great pain and they were surrounded by dozens of lions so it was decided to deliver the baby in the vehicle. Chetan Gadhia, district head of the 108 emergency ambulance service of Amreli said, "The staff stopped the ambulance and waited for lions to leave. But that did not happen. The staff contacted our physician over phone and gave details of delivery. The delivery took about 25 minutes, and the entire time the lions were moving around the ambulance," Apparently, this is not the first time when an incident like this happened. The paramedics of 108 emergency ambulance have crossed their paths with lions earlier as well. The staff is now trained to face any such encounters. Watch the video to know more. Amreli(Gujarat): Woman delivered baby in an ambulance surrounded by a pride of lions pic.twitter.com/X5oYZ45vNL — ANI (@ANI_news) July 2, 2017 ×

Emergency delivery took place in an ambulance surrounded by lions

Uttarakhand will be open defecation free by this month-end, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has asserted. He said his government has given maximum emphasis on Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s call for a &#39;Swachh Bharat&#39; and has taken a number of steps for cleanliness.

&quot;By the end of May, Uttarakhand will be open defecation free, barring a few areas in Haridwar,&quot; Rawat told PTI in an interview.

The 56-year-old chief minister said a plan is being chalked out to rejuvenate the two rivers in Dehradun - Song and Tons - so that clean water flows through them.

&quot;The confluence of the two rivers is already free from smell. Birds have started drinking water there. It is an encouraging news,&quot; he said.

Earlier, the Centre had announced that Sikkim was the first state to become open defecation free followed by Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.

It was anticipating four more states -- Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab -- to achieve the target of open defecation free by this year.

Rawat assumed the charge of chief minister of Uttarakhand on March 18 after the BJP stormed to power winning 57 of the 70 assembly seats, by ousting the Congress.

He also highlighted the BJP government&#39;s transfer policy for state bureaucrats and police officers saying it was completely transparent and balanced.

&quot;There has been not a single complaint regarding the transfers we have done. There was no corruption in the transfers, these were balanced and transparent,&quot; he said.

(PTI)&nbsp;

The Centre said it had anticipated the same for four more states, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab

Uttarakhand will be open defecation free by this month-end, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has asserted. He said his government has given maximum emphasis on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a 'Swachh Bharat' and has taken a number of steps for cleanliness. "By the end of May, Uttarakhand will be open defecation free, barring a few areas in Haridwar," Rawat told PTI in an interview. The 56-year-old chief minister said a plan is being chalked out to rejuvenate the two rivers in Dehradun - Song and Tons - so that clean water flows through them. "The confluence of the two rivers is already free from smell. Birds have started drinking water there. It is an encouraging news," he said. Earlier, the Centre had announced that Sikkim was the first state to become open defecation free followed by Himachal Pradesh and Kerala. It was anticipating four more states -- Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab -- to achieve the target of open defecation free by this year. Rawat assumed the charge of chief minister of Uttarakhand on March 18 after the BJP stormed to power winning 57 of the 70 assembly seats, by ousting the Congress. He also highlighted the BJP government's transfer policy for state bureaucrats and police officers saying it was completely transparent and balanced. "There has been not a single complaint regarding the transfers we have done. There was no corruption in the transfers, these were balanced and transparent," he said. (PTI)

Uttarakhand to be open defecation free by May 31: CM Rawat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said every Indian village will get electricity by next year.&nbsp;

He made his comments at the inauguration ceremony of the annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.&nbsp;

&quot;India has in the last 3 years improved on all macro economic indicators. We have made big strides in development,&quot; ANI reported Modi as saying.&nbsp;

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By next year, no village in India will be without electricity: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat <a href="https://t.co/aDytQfFoVs">pic.twitter.com/aDytQfFoVs</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/866885696752975872">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Our challenges also include ensuring our rural communities have access to finance, building infrastructure,&quot; Modi added.&nbsp;

&quot;We have made unprecedented increase in capital investment in infra covering railways, highways, power &amp; gas pipeline,&quot; ANI reported Modi as saying.&nbsp;

&quot;India must be an engine of growth and an example in climate friendly-development,&quot; Modi added.&nbsp;

On Africa, ANI reported Modi as saying: &quot;Over decades our ties have become stronger; after assuming office in 2014, we made Africa top priority for India&#39;s foreign,eco policy.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;India&#39;s partnership with Africa is based on a model of cooperation which is responsive to needs of African countries, it is demand-driven,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

He added, &quot;India is proud of its education and technical ties with Africa.&quot;&nbsp;

(WION)

Modi was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said every Indian village will get electricity by next year. He made his comments at the inauguration ceremony of the annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. "India has in the last 3 years improved on all macro economic indicators. We have made big strides in development," ANI reported Modi as saying. By next year, no village in India will be without electricity: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/aDytQfFoVs — ANI (@ANI_news) May 23, 2017 × "Our challenges also include ensuring our rural communities have access to finance, building infrastructure," Modi added. "We have made unprecedented increase in capital investment in infra covering railways, highways, power & gas pipeline," ANI reported Modi as saying. "India must be an engine of growth and an example in climate friendly-development," Modi added. On Africa, ANI reported Modi as saying: "Over decades our ties have become stronger; after assuming office in 2014, we made Africa top priority for India's foreign,eco policy." "India's partnership with Africa is based on a model of cooperation which is responsive to needs of African countries, it is demand-driven," he said. He added, "India is proud of its education and technical ties with Africa." (WION)

Every Indian village to get electricity by next year: PM Modi

Gujarat amended its&nbsp;Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954 Friday to make the maximum punishment for the killing of a&nbsp;cow a life term in jail.&nbsp;

The state now has the country&#39;s toughest law against cow slaughter.&nbsp;

Talking to the Indian Express after the amendment was passed, chief minister Vijay Rupani said that while he was &quot;not against any food&quot;, he wanted to make Gujarat &quot;shakahari&quot; (vegetarian).&nbsp;

&quot;We do not want Jersey cows, but Gir and Kankreji cows instead,&quot; he said.

Rupani then went on to describe Gujarat as a &quot;unique state&quot; which followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi -- &nbsp;&quot;non-violence and truth&quot;.

&quot;This is Gandhi&rsquo;s Gujarat, Sardar&rsquo;s (Vallabhbhai Patel) Gujarat and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Gujarat,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The earlier maximum sentence in Gujarat for the killing of a cow was three to seven years. The amendment pushes that up to 14 years. &nbsp;

The amendment now also allows for a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, and not less than Rs 1 lakh.&nbsp;

(WION)

Vijay Rupani told the Indian Express he is 'not against any food' but wants to make Gujarat 'shakahari'

Gujarat amended its Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954 Friday to make the maximum punishment for the killing of a cow a life term in jail. The state now has the country's toughest law against cow slaughter. Talking to the Indian Express after the amendment was passed, chief minister Vijay Rupani said that while he was "not against any food", he wanted to make Gujarat "shakahari" (vegetarian). "We do not want Jersey cows, but Gir and Kankreji cows instead," he said. Rupani then went on to describe Gujarat as a "unique state" which followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi -- "non-violence and truth". "This is Gandhi’s Gujarat, Sardar’s (Vallabhbhai Patel) Gujarat and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s Gujarat," he said. The earlier maximum sentence in Gujarat for the killing of a cow was three to seven years. The amendment pushes that up to 14 years. The amendment now also allows for a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, and not less than Rs 1 lakh. (WION)

Gujarat chief minister says he wants to make state 'vegetarian'

One person was killed and about 14 injured when violence erupted following a scuffle between Muslim and Hindu school students in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s home state of Gujarat, a senior administrative official said on Sunday.

A crowd of about 5,000 people attacked Muslim residents and set dozens of homes and vehicles on fire at Vadavali village in Patan district on Saturday after Hindu students complained of misbehaviour by Muslim students, said K. K. Nirala, the district&#39;s top administrative official.

Members of the Muslim community retaliated by throwing stones and police used teargas and fired seven rounds to disperse the crowd and control the violence, Nirala said.

Gujarat has a history of serious communal trouble.

Rioters killed about 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, in the state 2002, according to estimates.

Modi was chief minister at the time and he was accused of turning a blind eye to one of the worst outbreaks of religious violence in independent India.

Modi denied any involvement in the unrest and in 2013 a panel appointed by the Supreme Court said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him.

Nirala said the situation had been brought under control and three companies of the State Reserve Police have been asked to stay in the village to maintain peace.

(Reuters)

A crowd of about 5,000 people attacked Muslim residents and set dozens of homes and vehicles on fire in western India

One person was killed and about 14 injured when violence erupted following a scuffle between Muslim and Hindu school students in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, a senior administrative official said on Sunday. A crowd of about 5,000 people attacked Muslim residents and set dozens of homes and vehicles on fire at Vadavali village in Patan district on Saturday after Hindu students complained of misbehaviour by Muslim students, said K. K. Nirala, the district's top administrative official. Members of the Muslim community retaliated by throwing stones and police used teargas and fired seven rounds to disperse the crowd and control the violence, Nirala said. Gujarat has a history of serious communal trouble. Rioters killed about 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, in the state 2002, according to estimates. Modi was chief minister at the time and he was accused of turning a blind eye to one of the worst outbreaks of religious violence in independent India. Modi denied any involvement in the unrest and in 2013 a panel appointed by the Supreme Court said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Nirala said the situation had been brought under control and three companies of the State Reserve Police have been asked to stay in the village to maintain peace. (Reuters)

Communal clash leaves one dead, 14 hurt in PM Modi's home state

A fire broke out at a cracker shop in Rustampura village of Vadodara district?, Gujarat on Friday evening, leaving at least 8 dead and several people injured.

Fire engines rushed to the spot to douse the flames. A police team is also at the spot. The injured have been shifted to a hospital.

(DNA)

The incident took place in Rustampura village of Vadodara district and injured many

A fire broke out at a cracker shop in Rustampura village of Vadodara district?, Gujarat on Friday evening, leaving at least 8 dead and several people injured. Fire engines rushed to the spot to douse the flames. A police team is also at the spot. The injured have been shifted to a hospital. (DNA)

India: Fire at cracker shop kills 8 in Gujarat

&nbsp;

On the outskirts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s home city, the stench from cow carcasses littering the roadside is overpowering as India&#39;s lowest social caste keeps up protests against deep-rooted discrimination.

Dalits, previously known as &#39;untouchables&#39;, stopped collecting carcasses more than two months ago in Gujarat state, after the brutal beating of four Dalit youths accused of killing a cow, considered sacred in India. &nbsp;

A video of the public flogging carried out by upper-caste cow-protection vigilantes in Gujarat went viral, triggering outrage across the country.

&quot;Our Dalit brothers were thrashed so severely merely for doing what has been their work for centuries,&quot; said Somabhai Yukabhai, 49, among those who have stopped collecting and skinning dead cows, a traditional and grisly job restricted to Dalits.

&quot;I would rather starve to death than collect the dead cows,&quot; said the father of three, as a dog feasted on calf remains on the outskirts of Gujarat&#39;s largest city Ahmedabad.

&quot;The fight now is about our dignity. We will not sit quietly now,&quot; he added.

The carcasses are seen by critics as an embarrassing eyesore for Hindu nationalist Modi who has long hailed Gujarat as a shining example of India&#39;s economic progress.

His party also risks losing votes at upcoming elections because of the fury about the attack in July. Dalits have sizeable numbers in Gujarat and two other states gearing up for next year&#39;s polls, experts say.

The attack, during which the youths were stripped to their waists before being flogged, shows violence is still being meted out to Dalits six decades after India banned caste discrimination.

Authorities have concluded a wild lion, not the four youths, killed the cow and the youngsters were legally skinning the animal for its leather. Police this month formally filed charges against their attackers.

The incident was a tipping point for many Dalits, who feel they can no longer tolerate such attacks, said charismatic Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani.

&quot;Economic exploitation on one hand and caste-based violence on the other has completely frustrated them, especially the youth,&quot; said Mevani, a 35-year-old lawyer.

&quot;The Una (village) incident proved to be the last straw.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Dirty, dangerous jobs&nbsp;

The violent protests that erupted in July over the attack, leaving one police officer dead, have passed for now. But Dalits have kept up their strike against collecting the carcasses, although municipal authorities have taken over in some areas.

AFP reporters saw about 10 dead cows next to a main road leading into the city. Cows roam freely in Hindu-majority India and killing them is illegal in most states.

Dalits, who form 16.6 per cent of the national population, roughly 200 million people, performed the most dirty and dangerous jobs such as removing dead animals and human waste under India&#39;s caste system.

Determined by birth, the centuries-old system dictated hierarchy in Indian society including profession and level of education available.&nbsp;

Despite the ban discrimination remains rife: Some 27 per cent of Indians reported regularly carrying out &quot;untouchability&quot; -- such as refusing Dalits entry to their kitchen, or setting aside different utensils for them -- according to a survey last year by India&#39;s National Council of Applied Economic Research and America&#39;s University of Maryland.

Reported crimes against Dalits increased 44 per cent between 2010 and 2014, official figures show. A Dalit boy was burnt to death in 2014 for letting his goat stray onto land owned by an upper-caste farmer.&nbsp;

Though some experts cautioned that the increase could be down to growing awareness of the need to report atrocities, rather than a jump in actual cases.&nbsp;

But aspirations of and opportunities for young Dalits have grown after years of India&#39;s booming economic growth with hundreds of thousands flocking to cities for work and study.

Literacy rates among Dalits are 66 per cent nationally, while government jobs and university places are reserved for a string of different low castes under affirmative action policies.

&#39;Long fight&#39;&nbsp;

At a Dalit settlement dotted with ramshackle brick houses near Ahmedabad, residents spoke of facing discrimination on a daily basis.

&quot;We are not allowed to enter temples, fetch water from public taps or drink from the same cups at tea stalls,&quot; said Babulal Mackwan, a shoemaker.&nbsp;

Activist Mevani said Dalits would end their strike over the carcasses only if the state government vowed to stamp out caste oppression and gave five acres (two hectares) of land to every Dalit family affected.

At a skinning field strewn with cow remains in Gujarat&#39;s Surendranagar district, Dalits said the strike was hurting them financially. Dalits have traditionally and legally made a living from the carcasses -- including by selling hides to tanneries and fat to soap makers.&nbsp;

But they said they were tired of being relentlessly targeted by hardline Hindus belonging to cow-protection squads and were prepared to keep up the strike.

&quot;Even when we are transporting hides or bones, we are targeted by cow mobs. We are asked to cough up bribes or face beatings,&quot; said local Dalit activist Natubhai Parmar.

He added: &quot;But we will not bow down this time. We are prepared for a long fight.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The 'untouchables' stopped collecting the carcasses 2 months ago in Gujarat state after the thrashing of 4 Dalits accused of killing a cow

On the outskirts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home city, the stench from cow carcasses littering the roadside is overpowering as India's lowest social caste keeps up protests against deep-rooted discrimination. Dalits, previously known as 'untouchables', stopped collecting carcasses more than two months ago in Gujarat state, after the brutal beating of four Dalit youths accused of killing a cow, considered sacred in India. A video of the public flogging carried out by upper-caste cow-protection vigilantes in Gujarat went viral, triggering outrage across the country. "Our Dalit brothers were thrashed so severely merely for doing what has been their work for centuries," said Somabhai Yukabhai, 49, among those who have stopped collecting and skinning dead cows, a traditional and grisly job restricted to Dalits. "I would rather starve to death than collect the dead cows," said the father of three, as a dog feasted on calf remains on the outskirts of Gujarat's largest city Ahmedabad. "The fight now is about our dignity. We will not sit quietly now," he added. The carcasses are seen by critics as an embarrassing eyesore for Hindu nationalist Modi who has long hailed Gujarat as a shining example of India's economic progress. His party also risks losing votes at upcoming elections because of the fury about the attack in July. Dalits have sizeable numbers in Gujarat and two other states gearing up for next year's polls, experts say. The attack, during which the youths were stripped to their waists before being flogged, shows violence is still being meted out to Dalits six decades after India banned caste discrimination. Authorities have concluded a wild lion, not the four youths, killed the cow and the youngsters were legally skinning the animal for its leather. Police this month formally filed charges against their attackers. The incident was a tipping point for many Dalits, who feel they can no longer tolerate such attacks, said charismatic Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani. "Economic exploitation on one hand and caste-based violence on the other has completely frustrated them, especially the youth," said Mevani, a 35-year-old lawyer. "The Una (village) incident proved to be the last straw." Dirty, dangerous jobs The violent protests that erupted in July over the attack, leaving one police officer dead, have passed for now. But Dalits have kept up their strike against collecting the carcasses, although municipal authorities have taken over in some areas. AFP reporters saw about 10 dead cows next to a main road leading into the city. Cows roam freely in Hindu-majority India and killing them is illegal in most states. Dalits, who form 16.6 per cent of the national population, roughly 200 million people, performed the most dirty and dangerous jobs such as removing dead animals and human waste under India's caste system. Determined by birth, the centuries-old system dictated hierarchy in Indian society including profession and level of education available. Despite the ban discrimination remains rife: Some 27 per cent of Indians reported regularly carrying out "untouchability" -- such as refusing Dalits entry to their kitchen, or setting aside different utensils for them -- according to a survey last year by India's National Council of Applied Economic Research and America's University of Maryland. Reported crimes against Dalits increased 44 per cent between 2010 and 2014, official figures show. A Dalit boy was burnt to death in 2014 for letting his goat stray onto land owned by an upper-caste farmer. Though some experts cautioned that the increase could be down to growing awareness of the need to report atrocities, rather than a jump in actual cases. But aspirations of and opportunities for young Dalits have grown after years of India's booming economic growth with hundreds of thousands flocking to cities for work and study. Literacy rates among Dalits are 66 per cent nationally, while government jobs and university places are reserved for a string of different low castes under affirmative action policies. 'Long fight' At a Dalit settlement dotted with ramshackle brick houses near Ahmedabad, residents spoke of facing discrimination on a daily basis. "We are not allowed to enter temples, fetch water from public taps or drink from the same cups at tea stalls," said Babulal Mackwan, a shoemaker. Activist Mevani said Dalits would end their strike over the carcasses only if the state government vowed to stamp out caste oppression and gave five acres (two hectares) of land to every Dalit family affected. At a skinning field strewn with cow remains in Gujarat's Surendranagar district, Dalits said the strike was hurting them financially. Dalits have traditionally and legally made a living from the carcasses -- including by selling hides to tanneries and fat to soap makers. But they said they were tired of being relentlessly targeted by hardline Hindus belonging to cow-protection squads and were prepared to keep up the strike. "Even when we are transporting hides or bones, we are targeted by cow mobs. We are asked to cough up bribes or face beatings," said local Dalit activist Natubhai Parmar. He added: "But we will not bow down this time. We are prepared for a long fight." (AFP)

Cow carcasses, stench pile up as India's Dalits continue to protest prejudice

Vijay Rupani was elected today as the new chief minister of western Indian state of Guajrat after senior members of India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), including state lawmakers, met national president Amit Shah here.&nbsp; 
 
Rupani has been elected two days after Anandiben Patel stepped down as the chief minister, citing her age as the cause of the resignation. 
 
Nitin Patel, who was speculated to be elected as chief minister, will serve as deputy chief minister of the state. 
 
It&#39;s pertinent to mention Rupani was in charge of &nbsp;transport, water supply, labor and employment in Anandiben&#39;s cabinet.
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Vijay Rupani to be the next Chief Minister of Gujarat. Nitin Patel to be the Deputy CM, announces Nitin Gadkari. <a href="https://t.co/Dk95cDhmtU">pic.twitter.com/Dk95cDhmtU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/761541731850588160">August 5, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Vijay Rupani &amp; Nitin Patel being felicitated by Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah &amp; Anandiben Patel in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) <a href="https://t.co/F1JZJMNgdn">pic.twitter.com/F1JZJMNgdn</a>
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(ANI)

Rupani was elected today after former chief minister Anandiben Patel stepped down, citing her age as cause of resignation

Vijay Rupani was elected today as the new chief minister of western Indian state of Guajrat after senior members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), including state lawmakers, met national president Amit Shah here. Rupani has been elected two days after Anandiben Patel stepped down as the chief minister, citing her age as the cause of the resignation. Nitin Patel, who was speculated to be elected as chief minister, will serve as deputy chief minister of the state. It's pertinent to mention Rupani was in charge of transport, water supply, labor and employment in Anandiben's cabinet. Vijay Rupani to be the next Chief Minister of Gujarat. Nitin Patel to be the Deputy CM, announces Nitin Gadkari. pic.twitter.com/Dk95cDhmtU — ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2016 Vijay Rupani & Nitin Patel being felicitated by Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah & Anandiben Patel in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) pic.twitter.com/F1JZJMNgdn — ANI (@ANI_news) August 5, 2016 (ANI)

Vijay Rupani takes over as Indian state Gujarat's chief minister

Amid speculations that the chief of India&#39;s ruling party, Amit Shah may be asked to take over the reins in India&#39;s western Gujarat state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership today made it clear that a member of legislative assembly (MLA) would be assigned job, adding two observers are being sent to the state to hold talks with the legislators. 
 
The BJP central leadership during a parliamentary party meeting decided to send senior leaders - Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey - as observers to the state. 
 
Talking to the media after the meeting, union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said a meeting of the Gujarat legislators would be called in which a decision regarding the new chief ministerial candidate would be taken. 
 
&quot;Central leadership Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey will attend the meeting. They will hold talks with the MLAs and others there and together they will decide the chief minister,&quot; he said. 
 
Naidu also made it clear that there was no question of appointing the BJP president as the Gujarat chief minister. 
 
&quot;Amit Shah will be part of the meeting and will consult everyone about selecting the (next) leader.&nbsp;There is no question of Amit Shah, he is the national president,&quot; he said. 
 
The union minister praised Anandiben Patel for her decision to step down as the Gujarat chief minister citing age. 
 
Stating this decision would send a good message to the party workers, Naidu also informed that Anandiben would today submit her resignation to the governor of the state.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The parliamentary board has accepted her wish after discussion. The parliamentary board has praised her for her leadership over all these years in different posts,&quot; he said. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

A meeting of legislators would be called in western state of Gujarat to identify Anandiben's successor, said union minister M Venkaih Naidu

Amid speculations that the chief of India's ruling party, Amit Shah may be asked to take over the reins in India's western Gujarat state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership today made it clear that a member of legislative assembly (MLA) would be assigned job, adding two observers are being sent to the state to hold talks with the legislators. The BJP central leadership during a parliamentary party meeting decided to send senior leaders - Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey - as observers to the state. Talking to the media after the meeting, union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said a meeting of the Gujarat legislators would be called in which a decision regarding the new chief ministerial candidate would be taken. "Central leadership Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey will attend the meeting. They will hold talks with the MLAs and others there and together they will decide the chief minister," he said. Naidu also made it clear that there was no question of appointing the BJP president as the Gujarat chief minister. "Amit Shah will be part of the meeting and will consult everyone about selecting the (next) leader. There is no question of Amit Shah, he is the national president," he said. The union minister praised Anandiben Patel for her decision to step down as the Gujarat chief minister citing age. Stating this decision would send a good message to the party workers, Naidu also informed that Anandiben would today submit her resignation to the governor of the state. "The parliamentary board has accepted her wish after discussion. The parliamentary board has praised her for her leadership over all these years in different posts," he said. (ANI)

'National president' Amit Shah not in Gujarat CM race, clarifies India's ruling party

Two days after she announced in a Facebook post she would be stepping down, Chief Minister of western Indian state Gujarat, Anandiben Patel, submitted her resignation to Governor OP Kohli today afternoon. 
 
India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has already accepted her resignation and party legislators will decide on a new chief minister. 
 
The decision was taken after the board met today at Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s residence. 
 
Patel, who will turn 75 in November, had offered to resign on Monday, and asked the BJP to select a new face for the post. 
 
Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said the state legislature will meet in Gujarat to decide on the next chief minister for the state under the guidance of BJP national president Amit Shah.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
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Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said the state legislature will meet in Gujarat to decide on the next chief minister

Two days after she announced in a Facebook post she would be stepping down, Chief Minister of western Indian state Gujarat, Anandiben Patel, submitted her resignation to Governor OP Kohli today afternoon. India's ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has already accepted her resignation and party legislators will decide on a new chief minister. The decision was taken after the board met today at Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s residence. Patel, who will turn 75 in November, had offered to resign on Monday, and asked the BJP to select a new face for the post. Information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu said the state legislature will meet in Gujarat to decide on the next chief minister for the state under the guidance of BJP national president Amit Shah. (ANI)

India: Gujarat CM submits resignation?

After a week of protests following the public beating of four Dalits (also known as &quot;untouchables) for skinning a dead cow, which Hindus revere as holy, the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat has resigned. 
 
Anandiben Patel, who took over as CM after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vacated the position, posted her letter of resignation on Facebook.&nbsp;In it, she asked the BJP top brass to relieve her of her post as she was soon going to turn 75. 
 
Patel had come in for critcism for her handling of the fallout from the public beating of the Dalits. And under her leadership, the BJP has for the first time in the post-Narendra Modi era had to put up with a tough challenge from its opponents in the state. 
 
Patel, who will turn 75 on November 21 and who been a minister in the BJP government since 1998 and CM since 2014, said in her post-cum-resignation letter that the BJP needed a fresh face in the state before the elections next year. 
 
&quot;For the last some time there has been a tradition in the party that those who attain the age of 75, voluntarily retires from the post. I will attain the age of 75 in November,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&quot;Two months ago I had requested the party to relieve me from the post and today also through this letter, I request the party to relieve me of the post,&quot; she added. 
 
&quot;I am asking the party to relieve me two months in advance as the new chief minister will require the time to work, when the state is going to face elections in 2017 and an important event like Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held in January,&quot; Patel said.&nbsp;&quot;It (the rule of 75) is a good thing and it will give a chance to young leaders to come up,&quot; she added. 
 
Elections in the state are due in the second half of 2017.&nbsp;The unwritten convention in the party in recent times, set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been that people quit their posts when they turn 75. 
 
Patel has had to deal a number of recent upsets. The BJP fared badly in the rural civic bodies poll of December 2015 and the opposition Congress made gains at the cost of the ruling party. 
 
She also had to deal with the fierce Patel community quota agitation, one of the factors which contributed to the BJP losing in the rural local bodies poll. The BJP though retained its hold over the urban areas. 
 
The Dalit uprising after the Una public beating incident also dented the image of the party.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from PTI)

Anandiben Patel's government had come in for criticism for its handling of the furore caused by the public beating of four low-caste Dalits

After a week of protests following the public beating of four Dalits (also known as "untouchables) for skinning a dead cow, which Hindus revere as holy, the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat has resigned. Anandiben Patel, who took over as CM after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vacated the position, posted her letter of resignation on Facebook. In it, she asked the BJP top brass to relieve her of her post as she was soon going to turn 75. Patel had come in for critcism for her handling of the fallout from the public beating of the Dalits. And under her leadership, the BJP has for the first time in the post-Narendra Modi era had to put up with a tough challenge from its opponents in the state. Patel, who will turn 75 on November 21 and who been a minister in the BJP government since 1998 and CM since 2014, said in her post-cum-resignation letter that the BJP needed a fresh face in the state before the elections next year. "For the last some time there has been a tradition in the party that those who attain the age of 75, voluntarily retires from the post. I will attain the age of 75 in November," she said. "Two months ago I had requested the party to relieve me from the post and today also through this letter, I request the party to relieve me of the post," she added. "I am asking the party to relieve me two months in advance as the new chief minister will require the time to work, when the state is going to face elections in 2017 and an important event like Vibrant Gujarat Summit to be held in January," Patel said. "It (the rule of 75) is a good thing and it will give a chance to young leaders to come up," she added. Elections in the state are due in the second half of 2017. The unwritten convention in the party in recent times, set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been that people quit their posts when they turn 75. Patel has had to deal a number of recent upsets. The BJP fared badly in the rural civic bodies poll of December 2015 and the opposition Congress made gains at the cost of the ruling party. She also had to deal with the fierce Patel community quota agitation, one of the factors which contributed to the BJP losing in the rural local bodies poll. The BJP though retained its hold over the urban areas. The Dalit uprising after the Una public beating incident also dented the image of the party. (WION with inputs from PTI)

After week of protests, Gujarat chief minister posts her resignation on Facebook

Indian state of Gujarat continued to simmer for a third consecutive day as protests against brutal thrashing of Dalit youths (placed at the bottom of Indi? caste system) allegedly by some self-styled cow vigilantes. In several parts of the state, a shutdown was observed, besides road blockade and silent protests. 
 
Amid tensions, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi met the kin of the tannery workers who were beaten up allegedly by self-styled vigilante for skinning a dead cow on July 11 and assured them of all help. He also visited the hospital in Rajkot where the victims are admitted. 
 
Bharatiya Janata Party termed Rahul Gandhi&#39;s visit to Gujarat a &#39;&#39;political pilgrimage&#39;&#39; and &#39;&#39;photo-op&#39;&#39; and accused the opposition of trying to make political capital out of social tensions. 
 
With the party coming under increasing attack from opposition over its &quot;anti-dalit&quot; stand, BJP&#39;s senior party member M Venkaiah Naidu sought to highlight its pro-dalit and pro- weaker sections credentials by noting that it had highest number of SC, ST and OBC Members of Parliament. 
 
He claimed in a press conference that the opposition was afraid because weaker sections of the society were moving to the BJP and the Modi government was &quot;immensely popular&quot;. So they have launched a disinformation campaign against it, he alleged. They are doing so because of the UP assembly polls, he said. &quot;They, including our main rival (Congress) are instigating one community against another,&quot; he said. 
 
Separately, Nationalist Congress Party politician Praful Patel along with two MLAs in Gujarat met one victim, Bhanubhai Sarvaiya, and his family members at Mota Samadhiyala and offered compensation of Rs 2 lakh, before leaving for Rajkot to meet the hospitalised victims. 
 
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit Una in Gujarat&#39;s Gir-Somnath district on Friday. 
 
Naidu also targeted Kejriwal saying, &quot;Now they are making a political pilgrimage. It is nothing but an attempt to make political capital out of social tensions.&quot; 
 
Attacking Gandhi over his Gujarat visit, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said he did not find time to visit Kerala where a dalit girl was raped and murdered and the Hyderabad university, where many dalit students committed suicide during the UPA government. 
 
(PTI) 
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Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the opposition of trying to make political capital out of social tensions in Gujarat

Indian state of Gujarat continued to simmer for a third consecutive day as protests against brutal thrashing of Dalit youths (placed at the bottom of Indi? caste system) allegedly by some self-styled cow vigilantes. In several parts of the state, a shutdown was observed, besides road blockade and silent protests. Amid tensions, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi met the kin of the tannery workers who were beaten up allegedly by self-styled vigilante for skinning a dead cow on July 11 and assured them of all help. He also visited the hospital in Rajkot where the victims are admitted. Bharatiya Janata Party termed Rahul Gandhi's visit to Gujarat a ''political pilgrimage'' and ''photo-op'' and accused the opposition of trying to make political capital out of social tensions. With the party coming under increasing attack from opposition over its "anti-dalit" stand, BJP's senior party member M Venkaiah Naidu sought to highlight its pro-dalit and pro- weaker sections credentials by noting that it had highest number of SC, ST and OBC Members of Parliament. He claimed in a press conference that the opposition was afraid because weaker sections of the society were moving to the BJP and the Modi government was "immensely popular". So they have launched a disinformation campaign against it, he alleged. They are doing so because of the UP assembly polls, he said. "They, including our main rival (Congress) are instigating one community against another," he said. Separately, Nationalist Congress Party politician Praful Patel along with two MLAs in Gujarat met one victim, Bhanubhai Sarvaiya, and his family members at Mota Samadhiyala and offered compensation of Rs 2 lakh, before leaving for Rajkot to meet the hospitalised victims. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit Una in Gujarat's Gir-Somnath district on Friday. Naidu also targeted Kejriwal saying, "Now they are making a political pilgrimage. It is nothing but an attempt to make political capital out of social tensions." Attacking Gandhi over his Gujarat visit, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said he did not find time to visit Kerala where a dalit girl was raped and murdered and the Hyderabad university, where many dalit students committed suicide during the UPA government. (PTI)

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visits Gujarat, BJP terms it a political gimmick

The public outrage over the recent flogging of youngsters from the Dalit community (placed at the bottom of India&#39;s caste system) by self-appointed cow vigilantes in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s home state of Gujarat refused to die down, a day after the Gujarat shutdown call. The reports of protests and violence from across the state kept on trickling in on Thursday too. 
 
Home minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack in Gujarat and said Modi was committed to the protection of the Dalits. Rajnath informed that four police officials have been suspended in connection with the thrashing of dalits youngsters.&nbsp; 
 
Opposition lawmakers disrupted Parliament on Wednesday to protest against the floggings in Gujarat and demanded Modi apologise to the victims. 
 
&quot;The recent shocking incident in Gujarat where four&nbsp;Dalit&nbsp;youths were savagely beaten and humiliated publicly is just one example of the social terror this government condones,&quot; Sonia Gandhi, president of the opposition Congress party told supporters, Indian media reported. 
 
Critics say Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party&#39;s Hindu nationalist agenda empowers hardline activists to believe they can take matters into their hands and target minority groups like&nbsp;Dalits and Muslims involved in the cattle trade. 
 
Tensions mount ahead of Dalit rally on Friday&nbsp; 
 
Amid torching of buses and stone-throwing, police had to lob teargas shells at several places and impose prohibitory orders against assembly of four or more persons. 
 
A group of unidentified persons burnt three state transport buses in Mehsana district, about an hour`s drive from state`s capital Gandhinagar as well as commercial hub Ahmedabad. Blocking of buses on national highways, especially at Katariya village near Limbdi, connecting the Saurashtra region to central and south Gujarat, forced authorities to suspend services between Rajkot and Ahmedabad. 
 
The four members of the&nbsp;Dalit&nbsp;community were last week tied to a car, stripped and flogged with sticks by self-styled hardline Hindu cow protectors who then published a video of the attack as a &quot;warning&quot; to others. 
 
Tempers wore thin in the Saurashtra region with people coming out in hordes to protest against the July 11 atrocities in Una. 
 
The district collector of Surendranagar announced imposition of prohibitory orders, ahead of rally by Dalits community on Friday to protest the Una incident. 
 
Meanwhile, the Dholka town of Ahmedabad district saw a mob pelt stones at police, who fired teargas to disperse the crowd. The situation worsened as police allegedly entered houses of protestors, beat them and detained them. 
 
As many as 50 men were detained in a police station, which was later put under siege by women, who used utensils and rolling pins to seek immediate release of the detainees. A couple of women protesters fainted during the protest. 
 
In Surat, a group of protesters crowded the railway track at Udhna junction and disrupted train services before police dispersed them. 
Besides Saurashtra, rallies by Dalit community were also held in Vadodara and Patna cities. 
 
The beatings sparked the most serious protests by&nbsp;Dalits in years in Gujarat, with seven youths trying to kill themselves in protest by taking pesticide in different parts of the state, an act that further inflamed tempers. 
 
Cows are revered in Hinduism and their slaughter is banned in most states, including Gujarat, where Modi ruled as chief minister for a decade and spearheaded a 2011 ban. 
 
Dalits in the state, however, said they earn their livelihood from skinning cows that die naturally, buffaloes and other animals, and vowed to fight anyone trying to stop them from doing so. 
 
Police are investigating whether the flogged men killed the cow or whether it was already dead. 
 
Dalits are at the bottom of India&#39;s ages-old social hierarchy, making them vulnerable to attacks perpetrated by self-styled cow-protecting vigilantes. 
 
Several people accused of eating beef have also been attacked, including a Muslim man who was last year beaten to death by a mob in a town near New Delhi. 
 
(PTI, Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Four people from the lower caste were stripped and flogged by hardliner 'cow vigilantes' for skinning cows considered holy in Hinduism

The public outrage over the recent flogging of youngsters from the Dalit community (placed at the bottom of India's caste system) by self-appointed cow vigilantes in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat refused to die down, a day after the Gujarat shutdown call. The reports of protests and violence from across the state kept on trickling in on Thursday too. Home minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack in Gujarat and said Modi was committed to the protection of the Dalits. Rajnath informed that four police officials have been suspended in connection with the thrashing of dalits youngsters. Opposition lawmakers disrupted Parliament on Wednesday to protest against the floggings in Gujarat and demanded Modi apologise to the victims. "The recent shocking incident in Gujarat where four Dalit youths were savagely beaten and humiliated publicly is just one example of the social terror this government condones," Sonia Gandhi, president of the opposition Congress party told supporters, Indian media reported. Critics say Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party's Hindu nationalist agenda empowers hardline activists to believe they can take matters into their hands and target minority groups like Dalits and Muslims involved in the cattle trade. Tensions mount ahead of Dalit rally on Friday Amid torching of buses and stone-throwing, police had to lob teargas shells at several places and impose prohibitory orders against assembly of four or more persons. A group of unidentified persons burnt three state transport buses in Mehsana district, about an hour`s drive from state`s capital Gandhinagar as well as commercial hub Ahmedabad. Blocking of buses on national highways, especially at Katariya village near Limbdi, connecting the Saurashtra region to central and south Gujarat, forced authorities to suspend services between Rajkot and Ahmedabad. The four members of the Dalit community were last week tied to a car, stripped and flogged with sticks by self-styled hardline Hindu cow protectors who then published a video of the attack as a "warning" to others. Tempers wore thin in the Saurashtra region with people coming out in hordes to protest against the July 11 atrocities in Una. The district collector of Surendranagar announced imposition of prohibitory orders, ahead of rally by Dalits community on Friday to protest the Una incident. Meanwhile, the Dholka town of Ahmedabad district saw a mob pelt stones at police, who fired teargas to disperse the crowd. The situation worsened as police allegedly entered houses of protestors, beat them and detained them. As many as 50 men were detained in a police station, which was later put under siege by women, who used utensils and rolling pins to seek immediate release of the detainees. A couple of women protesters fainted during the protest. In Surat, a group of protesters crowded the railway track at Udhna junction and disrupted train services before police dispersed them. Besides Saurashtra, rallies by Dalit community were also held in Vadodara and Patna cities. The beatings sparked the most serious protests by Dalits in years in Gujarat, with seven youths trying to kill themselves in protest by taking pesticide in different parts of the state, an act that further inflamed tempers. Cows are revered in Hinduism and their slaughter is banned in most states, including Gujarat, where Modi ruled as chief minister for a decade and spearheaded a 2011 ban. Dalits in the state, however, said they earn their livelihood from skinning cows that die naturally, buffaloes and other animals, and vowed to fight anyone trying to stop them from doing so. Police are investigating whether the flogged men killed the cow or whether it was already dead. Dalits are at the bottom of India's ages-old social hierarchy, making them vulnerable to attacks perpetrated by self-styled cow-protecting vigilantes. Several people accused of eating beef have also been attacked, including a Muslim man who was last year beaten to death by a mob in a town near New Delhi. (PTI, Reuters)

Protests continue in India's Gujarat over attack on Dalit men

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