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Act of Vicious Caste Violence Shocks Uttar Pradesh
A horrific incident of caste-based violence has emerged from Lucknow’s Kakori area, where an elderly Dalit man, Rampal Rawat of the Pasi community, was allegedly forced to commit an inhuman and degrading act. Rawat claims that an individual identified as Swami Kant alias Pammu, an alleged worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), coerced him into licking his own urine off the ground near the Sheetla Maataa temple.
In a video statement, the victim explained that he was drinking water near the temple when Pammu accused him of urinating at the spot. Despite Rawat’s denial and explanation that water had spilled—and later admitting he may have unknowingly urinated due to breathing problems—Pammu allegedly hurled casteist abuses and threatened the elderly man, forcing him to lick the wet ground to clean the spot.
Political Backlash: Focus on Communalism, Neglect of Dalits
The incident has triggered a fierce political backlash against the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Opposition parties have accused the BJP regime of fostering an environment where deep-seated caste prejudice can be openly practiced with impunity, asserting that “hatred for Dalits runs in their blood.”
Leaders were quick to draw a contrast between the Chief Minister’s political focus and the reality faced by marginalized communities:
- Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad condemned the act, calling it a “brazen display of the age-old anti-Dalit mentality rooted in casteism and feudalism,” further stating that the crime is a “blot on humanity” and an “assault on the soul of the Constitution.”
- Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the “humiliating, inhuman punishment” inflicted on the victim.
Critics argue that while CM Yogi Adityanath prioritizes a brand of politics centered on “Hindu-Muslim” narratives and communal issues, the pressing societal ills like caste violence and the safety of Dalits are being ignored, creating an atmosphere of vulnerability. The victim, Rampal Rawat, has directly appealed to the Chief Minister, seeking justice for the horrific ordeal.
उत्तर प्रदेश की राजधानी लखनऊ के काकोरी थाना क्षेत्र, पुरानी बाजार, शीतला मंदिर में RSS कार्यकर्ता द्वारा दलित बुजुर्ग रामपाल पासी को पेशाब चाटने के लिए मजबूर करना — सिर्फ़ एक अपराध नहीं, बल्कि जातिवाद व सामंतवाद की वर्षों पुरानी दलित विरोधी मानसिकता का नंगा प्रदर्शन है।
बीमारी… pic.twitter.com/E5Zzyr9lWu
— Chandra Shekhar Aazad (@BhimArmyChief) October 21, 2025
Police Action and Claims
Following the circulation of the video and the mounting pressure, a case was registered against Swami Kant under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
However, the police have attempted to distance the accused from the influential organization named by the victim, claiming that Swami Kant has no confirmed ties to the RSS. The matter remains under investigation, but the incident has already served as a stark reminder of the persistent and often vicious reality of caste discrimination in the state.
