11 November,2009 10:35 AM IST | | Shree Lahiri
Staunch followers of MLA Chandrakant Handore tonsured their heads to protest his exclusion from the Cabinet, sworn in on Saturday
Going bald may be a man's worst fear, but that did not deter 25 men from shaving their heads publicly yesterday.
The noon sun glinted off their shining pates at Arora Towers Chowk as the men gladly sacrificed their full crop of hair to protest the exclusion of MLA Chandrakant Handore from the Cabinet sworn in on Saturday. All the protestors belonged to Bheem Shakti Sansthan, founded by Handore in 2002.
Peaceful protest
"When we heard about his exclusion, we knew we had to do something. We did not want to be violent, so we decided to stage a mundan andolan. One hundred and one people had signed up to get their heads shaved, of which 25 have done it here on the spot, while the rest would do it later," said Chintaman Kamble, state vice president of the Sansthan.
Kunal Bhonsle, president of the association's Pune wing, said, "Handore saheb formed this association to serve the Dalits. Congress has risen to where it is because of him and the work he has done for the backward classes." Regarding their future course of action, Bhonsle said, "If he is not inducted into the Cabinet in four days, anything can happen. Koi atmahatya bhi kar sakta hai."
'Stop andolan'
However, Chandrakant Handore said, "The party gave me a chance in 2004. My exclusion this time is the party's decision. I respect it and stand by it." About the andolan he said, "I acknowledge what they did for me, but I want peace. I want them to stop now and respect my party's decision."
