VISKHAPATNAM: Kula Vivaksha Vyatireka Porata Committee state general secretary John Wesley deplored the Government’s indifference to solving the problem of caste discrimination prevalent in the state. He demanded that special courts be constituted to probe the incidents of Dalit harassments.

‘‘A survey conducted by the committee found caste discrimination was rampant in over 11,000 villages in the state and yet the Government was unmoved on the Dalits’ plight‘‘, said John Wesley, addressing newsmen here on Thursday.

He said the Government backed out of its promise to conduct a special Janmabhoomi aimed at eradicating the social evil. To compound their woes, the police officials have colluded with the upper caste people and were avoiding taking action against them.

Narrating the incidents that took place in Varada and Maredupudi villages in the district, John said a police official of the rank of DSP was to conduct the inquiry, but there was no trace of policemen in the area.

He demanded that the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act be implemented in letter and spirit.

John said in several villages the activists of the committee resorted to direct action by facilitating the Dalits’ entry into temples, stopping the practice of ‘two tumblers’ etc. He demanded that appropriate action be taken against the culprits before the situation went out of hands.

He announced that a ‘Chalo K Kotapadu’ agitation would be taken up on June 11 in which the MRO office would be besieged to force the government to take action.