Bant Singh the face of the under privileged, farmers and Poster boy for atrocities against Dalits in Punajb on Monday addressed several ‘nukkad’ meetings in the reserve constituency of Phillaur. Bant is a victim of the atrocities on dalits during misrule of SAD-BJP, is on an extensive tour of dalit-dominated region of Punjab.“Other parties always used dalits as a vote bank and never took any step for their upliftment” Bant Singh said adding that AAP is the only party which has unveiled a special manifesto for dalits and even pledged to install Dalit as Deputy Chief Minister in the AAP Government.
Narrating his tale of woes, Bant Singh revealed how his eldest school-going daughter was gang raped and even criminals of upper caste threatened him of dire consequence, if he would approach the court to seek justice. “Atrocities on Dalits have increased many folds in recent times under Akali rule, AAP government will provide justice to the community.” Bant said.
“When I resisted and fought for justice, my both hands and a leg was chopped off by the rapists”, he revealed. It is pertinent to mention here that in January 2006, Bant Singh lost both his arms and a leg in a murderous assault by landlords in his native village Jhabbar.The incident elevated him to the status of a hero of Dalit class struggle against feudal landlords. The assault was said to have been a punishment for Bant’s fight for justice for his minor daughter who had been gang raped.The firebrand poet Bant Singh is a former CPI (ML) leader who has been singing ballads and songs for the past 40 years. His induction is supposed to help the AAP with Punjab’s Dalit community, which comprises a third of the state’s population.