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Ajmer: Police deployed during wedding procession due to old Dalit-OBC conflict, media peddles false propaganda about caste discrimination

The police were present because of an old feud involving the bride's family and not because anyone was afraid of being harmed by persons from upper caste

A recent wedding in Ajmer, Rajasthan grabbed significant media attention over the past few days. However, this interest stemmed not from the event itself but from the inculcation of caste dynamics and the perpetuation of a victimhood narrative where none existed. Notably, the media has consistently sought to incorporate caste issues into its coverage and this instance was no exception. However, the propaganda was soon busted and the truth was unveiled.

The matter came to light on 22nd January when notable media outlets including The Times of India, The Print, ETV Bharat and NDTV among others projected the presence of police during the wedding procession as a glaring example of atrocities on the members of the Scheduled Caste or Dalit community without looking into or rather deliberately ignoring the reality of the situation. The casteist undertone in their reports conveyed a portrayal that was fundamentally at odds with the actual circumstances.

Each story tried to depict the presence of police officers as a result of aggressive behaviour from the upper caste people who could attack the wedding party because members of the Dalit community are allegedly not allowed to ride horses. However, the cops were, in fact, deployed since there was an old conflict between the members of Dalit and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities which transpired around twenty-years ago. Dilip Mandal also called out “The Times of India” for spreading fake news.

Notably, the cops were not called by the groom or his family members and the matter had nothing to do with the upper caste.

The actual background of the incident

The incident happened in the Lavera village of Ajmer district in Rajasthan. The prominent members of the Gurjar community and villagers participated in the marriage ceremony of Vijay Bakolia, who had travelled from Srinagar with the wedding procession, delivering an example of social and community harmony. They not only welcomed the procession but even joined it on the way to the bride’s house. The locals dispelled all of the unfounded accusations that a Dalit groom perched atop a mare could stir trouble in the community. 200 police officers from 12 police stations were stationed in every street and neighborhood in the village in response to the request for police protection by the bride’s family which turned the area into a cantonment.

The bride, Aruna, was regarded as the hamlet’s daughter by the residents of Lavera, a Gujjar-dominated region who bid farewell to her. The sacred rituals were completed peacefully. The wedding party also adhered to the village customs according to which it is customary for the groom from any community to not pass close to the temple of Charbhuja and Devnarayan while riding a horse. The long-standing practice was also observed on that day.

The participation of the villagers in the wedding ceremony was also seen in full swing at the bride’s house. The wedding ceremony was carried out amicably with Hindu traditions owing to the cooperation of the villagers, the district police’s understanding and the subdivision administration’s support.

On 9th July 2005, members of a group in Lavera village objected to a marriage which led to a serious dispute. The police administration had put in place stringent security measures at that time as well. The horseman left with his mare from the baraat despite the deployment of additional police officers. The groom had to to sit in a police jeep and the wedding procession was then able to move forward.

The police were obviously present because of an old feud involving the bride’s family and not because anyone was afraid of being harmed by persons from upper caste. Unfortunately, the turth has always been overshadowed by the propaganda of the liberal ecosystem and mainstream media and this time was no different.

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OpIndia Staff
OpIndia Staffhttps://www.opindia.com
Staff reporter at OpIndia

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