Video of SP Leader Humiliating Dalit Man Goes Viral, Fuels Outrage
In a recent incident that has sparked widespread outrage, a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and president of Pihani Municipality in Hardoi, Shaheen Begum, was caught on camera apparently humiliating a Dalit man named Rajaram. The video, which has since gone viral on social media, has raised serious concerns about the treatment of marginalized communities by those in positions of power.
âš¡ A dalit man was humiliated and made to fall at the feet of CONgress alliance partner Samajwadi Party’s Municipality Chief Shaheen Begum.
She was smiling and a dalit sweeper was begging at her feet.
Don’t worry no one will make cartoons – memes, Media and especially Jai Bheem… pic.twitter.com/KqRednmTL7
— Arun Pudur (@arunpudur) July 15, 2023
In the video, Rajaram, a sweeper by profession, is seen laying his head near the feet of Shaheen Begum, asking for forgiveness with folded hands. Meanwhile, some people in the background can be heard urging him to apologize more loudly. Surprisingly, Shaheen Begum remains smiling throughout the incident.
However, Rajaram has come forward claiming that the entire episode is manipulated and that he only touched the leader’s feet to seek her blessings. He even referred to her as a mother figure. On the other hand, Shaheen Begum has denied any wrongdoing and labeled it as a political conspiracy against her. Despite their justifications, the video clearly captures Rajaram pleading, Forgive me for my big mistake, followed by directions from someone off-camera to speak louder. Rajaram reiterates his plea for forgiveness, promising that there will be no mistake again, before being commanded to get back on his feet by Shaheen Begum.
Rajaram has since registered a complaint at the police station, alleging that the 16-second video has been misrepresented. However, netizens on social media have expressed their indignation over the incident. Many have criticized the SP leader for her actions and questioned the silence of Dalit activists, sparking comparisons with previous cases of mistreatment against marginalized communities.
The incident is reminiscent of the Sidhi urination case, where a man named Pravesh Shukla was caught on video urinating on a tribal man named Dashmat Rawat. The video quickly went viral, leading to Shukla’s arrest and the subsequent demolition of his illegally constructed residence. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan even apologized to Dashmat Rawat and washed his feet as a gesture of remorse. The stark difference in responses to these two cases has only further fueled the outrage against Shaheen Begum and the lack of accountability in her actions.
It is crucial to approach this incident with the utmost sensitivity and maintain journalistic integrity. Different perspectives and opinions must be considered, allowing for a balanced view of the topic. The incident serves as a reminder that abuse of power and mistreatment of marginalized communities still persist, calling for a concerted effort to address these issues and ensure justice for all.