Muslim League Workers Humiliate Dalit Ex-President at Vilayur Panchayath

Palakkad: An incident of alleged caste-based humiliation has been reported from Vilayur Grama Panchayath in Palakkad district, following the United Democratic Front’s victory in the recently concluded local body elections. Muslim League workers are accused of sprinkling cow dung–mixed water and performing a 'punyaham' ritual in and around the Vilayur Panchayath office as part of their victory celebrations.

For the past five years, the Vilayur Panchayat had been governed by Baby Girija, CPI M Vilayur Local Committee member from the Dalit community. With the UDF taking control this time, League workers allegedly carried out the ritual at the Panchayath office premises soon after the change in administration.

Opposition parties have strongly criticised the act, stating that performing such rituals in a public office amounts to a deliberate insult and reflects deep-rooted caste prejudice. They point out that similar actions have repeatedly been directed at local bodies previously headed by Dalit representatives, while panchayaths taken over from non- Dalit presidents have not witnessed such 'cleansing' practices.'

The CPI M and LDF leaders have accused the Muslim League of promoting feudal and casteist attitudes under the guise of religious practices, and of undermining the secular and democratic character of local self-governing institutions. They have demanded strict action against those responsible and called on the administration to ensure that public offices are not turned into arenas for caste-based provocation.

The Muslim League leadership has not issued any official response to the allegations so far.