Jalandhar, July 11: Lok Janshakti Party is organising 'Dalit Chetna' cycle march from Jalandhar to Delhi today to create awareness among people about alleged excesses committed on Dalits by the Punjab government during the recent caste clashes in Talhan village near here. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, LJP chief and former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the clashes between Jats and Dalits had "badly shaken" the faith of the Dalit community in the state government as it had failed to take appropriate action against police officials responsible for firing on a mob on June 5 resulting in the death of a Dalit youth.

Paswan alleged that the government had neither provided a job to a kin of the slain youth or disbursed grant of Rs one lakh to the injured. He said Dalits should be given 50 per cent representation in the managing committee of Talhan Gurudwara as they constitute more than 75 percent of the village's population.

Paswan said the cycle march would terminate at Parliament house on July 21.

Bureau Report