DALIT RIGHTS IN INDIA

Motion Text

That this House deplores the ongoing campaign of violent discrimination against the Dalits, who are born into the bottom of India's caste system; supports the Indian Government's continuing efforts to end caste discrimination through legislative initiatives such as the Prevention of Atrocities Act; expresses its concern at the apparent inability of the Indian judiciary to deal effectively with high-caste militia violence aimed specifically against Dalits, such as the Laxampur-Bathe massacre of 1st December 1997 which left 61 adults and children dead; urges the British Government to support the political and social development of the Dalit people through focused development programmes and closer contact with the Indian authorities; and welcomes the excellent contribution to this human rights campaign by the International Dalit Solidarity Network.