Jignesh Mewani, the Dalit MLA from Gujarat reached Khairthal on Sunday and visited the family of Pawan Kumar who was killed in police firing during the April 2 Dalit agitation. He was accompanied by social activist Nikhil Dey and Dalit leader Sanjay Madhav.
In view of Jignesh’s visit, the local administration had clamped prohibitory orders in Khairthal to prevent him from holding a meeting.
However, Mevani along with others managed to reach there and he also garlanded the statue of Ambedkar and visited the homes of the Dalits there.
Jignsh was part of a fact finding team comprising social activists Nikhil Dey, Kailash Meena, Sanjay Madhav, Rashid Hussain, Kamal Tank and Anwar Haque that had gone to examine into the alleged repression of Dalits by the police in the area.
Speaking to media, Mewani accused the police of lodging false cases against Dalits after the April 2 Bharat bandh. He also accused the state government of suppressing the Dalit community.
The MLA from Gujarat said he would travel across the state and meet one lakh Dalit families and campaign against BJP. However, Jignesh did not give a clear answer about whether he would campaign in favour of the Congress.
