In the wake of the Gohana violence, where about 50 houses belonging to Dalits were torched, a mahapanchayat of Dalits on Monday demanded the immediate dismissal of the B S Hooda government in Haryana for its alleged failure to prevent the incident. A request for compensation of Rs 20 lakh (Rs 2 million) for each of the affected families has also been made.

The mahapanchayat, which was held under the aegis of Akhil Bhartiya Valmiki Samaja and attended by thousands of people from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi and other states, also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the violence.

The mahapanchayat resolved that criminal proceedings against the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of the concerned district should be launched for their alleged failure to control the situation. They also asked for a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of the person who was killed in the incident.

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"If our demands are not met by September 18, we will hold a public rally at Rohtak, where a by-election is going to be held on that date and boycott all Congress party functions," Mor Singh, the president of the ABVS said. "What we want is justice. The government must ensure such an incident should not be repeated anywhere in India."

Two Members of Legislative Assembly, Hariram Valmiki (Haryana) and Brahma Singh (Delhi), said they 'would quit their assembly seats if justice is not done to the affected Dalits'.

However, the mahapanchayat brought to the fore differences among Dalit groups, with some accusing the organisers of favouring others by giving them more time to put forward their views.

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