NEW DELHI: In a formal letter addressed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 23, Gujarat’s Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani expressed his outrage over the “unacceptable, improper, and deplorable” conduct of Rajkumar Pandian, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for SC/ST in Ahmedabad. The incident stems from Mevani’s visit to Pandian’s office on October 15, 2024, to address the concerns of Dalits in Gujarat regarding illegal encroachment of land allotted to them in the Kutch district.
The crux of the issue goes back several decades when Dalits were allotted land in the 1980s. However, as Mevani points out, despite the allocation on paper, physical possession of the land remains elusive. The problem was compounded in recent years, with two Dalits killed in public in 2023 for attempting to enter their own land. On August 15, 2024, following repeated requests by the community, the Revenue Department made a Panchanama, officially recognizing the illegal encroachment on the Dalit-owned land. Yet, the police reportedly failed to act.
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Mevani stated that after multiple attempts to involve local authorities, including Kutch’s Superintendent of Police and the Range Inspector General, the matter remained unresolved, leading him to personally meet Pandian at his Ahmedabad office. Accompanied by SC Cell Chairperson Hitendra Pitadiya, Mevani sought to push the police to take cognizance of the illegal encroachments.
However, according to Mevani, the encounter with ADGP Pandian took a sharp turn when the officer acted dismissively and rudely. Mevani alleged that upon entering the office, both he and Pitadiya were ordered to leave their cell phones outside, not as a request, but as a command. Pandian reportedly failed to show the courtesy expected toward an elected representative. When Mevani highlighted the protocol for public officials to be respectful and attentive, the ADGP, as per the complaint, responded with anger, claiming the meeting was “over” and instructed his juniors to remove Pitadiya from the premises.
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Mevani further criticized Pandian’s remark on his attire, accusing the ADGP of making derogatory comments about the fact that he was wearing a T-shirt. The MLA asserted that the behaviour was an intentional attempt to intimidate and disrespect him.
In his letter, Mevani called out the larger problem of bureaucratic indifference towards marginalized communities, particularly Dalits. He noted that Pandian’s actions reflected a broader “disregard for the interests of Dalits” and an abuse of power. Mevani urged the Home Minister to take immediate action against the ADGP for the alleged misconduct and insult towards the Dalit community, which he claimed affects the dignity and esteem of 50 lakh Dalits in Gujarat.