Dalits should be given reservation in 14% seats in political field: Bhattarai

Expressing solidarity with the movement of the Dalit Campaign for Dalits in Maitighar, Kathmandu on Saturday, Chairman Bhattarai said that the state should take initiatives by enacting laws to resolve not only the caste discrimination against the Dalit community but also all the political, economic and social discrimination.

'We have arranged 33 percent reservation for women. I have already said that we should give 14% reservation to Dalits. Even now Dalits should be given 14 percent reservation in the political field as well,' he said.

Since 25 days ago, the youth under the leadership of Khagendra Sunar, the coordinator of the campaign, have been drawing the attention of the government saying that the rights of the Dalit community should be guaranteed by the Constitution. Former Prime Minister Bhattarai expressed solidarity with the movement on Saturday and said that the Dalit community should take the first step for rights. 'Who is the victim. He has to stand up and say I want rights. After that, the leaders of the society like us should also support the oppressed community for their rights. This caste discrimination is not created by Dalits, therefore it is not something that can be solved by Dalits alone,' he said. The society should be able to move forward by breaking the religious and cultural beliefs.'

President Bhattarai said that Article 40 of the Constitution states that the Dalit community should be empowered in matters such as education, health and land, and the government should pay attention to its implementation. Dalits cannot read now. Now, thousands of Dalits do master's PhD at the same time. They are financially empowered. It helps to make the society equal. Help is enough to end this inhuman behavior like caste discrimination.'

He said that the philosophy of Ambedkar is well-known in South Asia to solve the problem of caste system and said that the campaign started by Ambedkar hundred years ago should be continued. Dalit Campaign for Dalits has been protesting continuously for the past 25 days saying that Dalits should be given rights according to the constitution. Coordinator Sunar has been performing with nails on his body.