Jignesh Mevani

Jignesh Mevani (born 11 December 1982)[1][2] is an Indian politician. He is a member representing Vadgam constituency in Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He has worked as a social activist and lawyer. He had led protests by Dalits, considered 'lower castes' in the Indian caste hierarchy, in Gujarat in 2016.[3]

Jignesh Mevani
At Gujarati Literature Festival, Ahmedabad on 16 December 2016
Member of Legislative assembly of Gujarat
Assumed office
December 2017
ConstituencyVadgam
Personal details
Born (1982-12-11) 11 December 1982
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Political partyIndependent
Alma materGujarat University (BA, LLB)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • social activist
  • politician
  • journalist
Signature

Early life

Mevani was born on 11 December 1982 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to a Dalit family.[1] His family is native of Meu, a village in Mehsana district. He completed his schooling from Swastik Vidyalaya and Vishwa Vidyalay Madhyamik Shala in Ahmedabad. He completed Bachelor of Arts in English literature in 2003 from H.K Arts College, Ahmedabad. In 2004, he received Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. From 2004 to 2007, he served as a reporter for Abhiyan, a Gujarati magazine. In 2013, he received Bachelor of Laws from D. T. Law College, Ahmedabad.[4]

Career

2016 Gujarat Dalit unrest
Main article: Gujarat Dalit unrest

After attack on Dalit men in Una village in Saurashtra region of Gujarat by claimed members of cow protection group, protests broke out across Gujarat. Jignesh Mevani led the protest march called Dalit Asmita Yatra from Ahmedabad to Una, which culminated on 15 August 2016 and was attended by some 20,000 Dalits, including dalit women, who took a pledge to give up their traditional jobs of removing cow carcasses. He demanded the land for upliftment of Dalits.[3][5][6]

Politics

In 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election, he contested and won the election from Vadgam constituency, running as an independent candidate with support of the Indian National Congress[7][8] and the Aam Aadmi Party.

Jignesh Mevani (center) at Youth Hunkar rally, Parliament Street, New Delhi, 9 January 2018.

Controversy

Mevani was allegedly photographed receiving a cheque from members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI), under the National Investigation Agency radar after many of its members were found fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In response, speaking to Times Now, senior SDPI official Abrar Ahmed said, "We are extending full support to Mevani. We will support any party which fights communal forces."[9] When the BJP accused Mevani of terrorism links, Mevani denied the charges, and threatened to sue BJP for defamation.[10] However two days after winning the Vadgam seat in the Gujarat Assembly election, speaking to CNN-News18, he admitted that he had taken ₹ 51,000 as donation from the PFI for his campaign, and challenged the central government to ban the organisation.[11][12]

2018 Bhima Koregaon violence
Main article: 2018 Dalit protests in Maharashtra

Along with Umar Khalid, Jignesh Mevani was booked under an FIR for giving 'provocative' speeches in Pune. The criminal offence against Mevani and Khalid was for promoting enmity between different groups through their speeches. The Elgaar Parishad rally, where this reportedly happened, was held in Pune to mark the 200th year of the Battle of Koregaon, a place in present-day Pune district, which was fought between the then British Indian Army and the Peshwas. Besides Mevani and Khalid, the mother of Rohith Vemula, Radhika Vemula, Dalit leader Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar, Dalit activist Soni Sori, and Bhim Army’s Vinay Ratan Singh were among others who attended the conference.[13]

References
  1. "Jignesh Mevani: His Popularity Set To Hit A Roadblock In 2018, Predicts Ganesha". 3 February 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  2. "Who is Jignesh Mevani?". The Indian Express. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. "10 things to know about Jignesh Mevani, the man leading Gujarats Dalit agitation". India Today. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  4. Vankar, Devendra (October 2016). Parmar, Anita (ed.). "Introduction article on Jignesh Mevani". Sanvedana Samaj. Ahmedabad: Kishor Makwana.
  5. Pathak, Maulik (7 October 2016). "We plan to take our fight to other parts of India: Jignesh Mevani". LiveMint. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  6. "The Leader Of The Fledgling Dalit Uprising In Gujarat Is Determined To Not Let It Die". Huffington Post India. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  7. "Dalit rising: Jignesh Mevani beats BJP by a handsome margin in Vadgam". India Today. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  8. "Alpesh Thakor And Jignesh Mevani, Big Congress Hopes, Win In Gujarat". NDTV.com. NDTV. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  9. "Gujarat: Jignesh Mewani gets funds from radical outfit". The Economic Times. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  10. "Accused of terror-link fund, Jignesh Mevani threatens to sue BJP". Indian Express. 10 December 2017.
  11. "Gujarat Assembly Elections: Jignesh Mevani admits to accepting Rs 51,000 as donation from PFI". Firstpost. Firstpost. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  12. "Jignesh Mevani insults PM Modi". YouTube. CNN News18. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  13. "Bhima-Koregaon violence: FIR against Jignesh Mevani, Umar Khalid for 'provocative' speeches in Pune". Indian Express. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
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