Cow Dung Water Sprinkled at Dalit-Led Panchayat: DYFI Protests Muslim League ‘Purification Ritual’

Kozhikode: The CPI(M)’s youth wing DYFI staged a protest at the Changaroth panchayat office in Kozhikode on Tuesday against a “purification ritual” carried out by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) activists, after a former panchayat president who hailed from the Dalit community demitted office.

Police said that the protest was peaceful and there was no tense atmosphere prevailing in the area. It also said that the LDF will be holding a protest march to the panchayat office in the evening. Police further said that no complaint in connection with the alleged "purification ritual" has been received by it till now.

The protest followed an incident on Monday in which IUML activists, as part of their victory celebrations, sprinkled cow dung–mixed water and swept the premises outside the panchayat office. Visuals aired on television channels showed individuals carrying IUML flags performing the act in front of the local body office, triggering widespread outrage.

The former panchayat president, Unni Vengeri, claimed that IUML activists were behind the incident. IUML is a key constituent of the Congress-led UDF opposition in Kerala. He contended that in three of the four panchayats the UDF won from the LDF, no such celebrations were held.

"The only difference in Changaroth panchayat is that a member of the Dalit community was the president here, so if anyone assumes it to be a casteist insult, can they be faulted?" he asked while speaking to a TV channel. It is emotionally hurtful, he added.

Recalling the previous five years of LDF rule, Vengeri said the panchayat functioned with the participation of all sections of society. While political opposition is expected, he alleged that the IUML acted with a specific and deliberate agenda in this instance.

Left organisations have strongly condemned the incident, describing it as regressive, casteist and an affront to democratic values and social equality.