Based on a complaint by Bhuj-based Dalit rights activist Vishal Garva, primary member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a popular folk singer Yogesh Gadhvi has been booked for using casteist slurs against the community. The FIR is lodged under sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Yogesh Gadhvi, also called Yogesh Boxa, was performing at opening ceremony of girl students’ hostel Bhimratna Samras Kanya Vidyalaya at Radhakridshnanagar in Bhuj town of Kutch recently. This school was built as part of Gujarat Samras Chhatralay Society under the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of the state government. Considering, other BJP leaders, including party president CR Paatil was also present at the event. Paatil was the chief guest here and also addressed the public meeting.
It is believed that Gadhvi, during his sermons used casteist slurs against the Dalit community. “Around 4 pm, Boxa started performing and during his sermons, he used casteiest slurs against the Dalit community. Our society leaders immediately reached the stage and reprimanded him saying how can he use a casteist slur against us when he has come at the inauguration of a hostel for our community daughters,” said Vishal in his complaint.
Other artists such as Umesh Barot and Sonal Sandhar were invited to perform at the inauguration.
