Read the passage and answer the question:

By the early nineteen seventies, the first generation Dalit graduates, especially those living in city slums began to assert themselves from various platforms. Dalit Panthers, a militant organisation of the Dalit youth, was formed in Maharashtra in 1972 as a part of these assertions. In the post-Independence period, Dalit groups were mainly fighting against the perpetual caste-based inequalities and material injustices that the Dalits faced in spite of constitutional guarantees of equality and justice. Effective implementation of reservations and other such policies of social justice was one of their prominent demands.

In the given question, a statement of Assertion is followed by a statement of Reason. Mark the correct answer.

Assertion: During the 1970s the Dalit Panthers had to resort to mass action for the assertion of Dalits’ rights.
Reason: They believed that the liberation of Dalits was possible only through violence and bloodshed.

The Assertion is correct but the Reason is incorrect.

The correct answer is Option 4- The Assertion is correct but the Reason is incorrect.

Assertion: During the 1970s the Dalit Panthers had to resort to mass action for the assertion of Dalits’ rights. (CORRECT)
Reason: They believed that the liberation of Dalits was possible only through violence and bloodshed. (INCORRECT)

During the 1970s legal mechanisms proved inadequate to stop the economic and social oppression of Dalits. Also the parties that were popular among the Dalits were not performing good in the elections on their own so he Dalit Panthers had to resort to mass action for the assertion of Dalits’ rights.

The government passed laws to that effect in the 1960s and 1970s. And yet, social discrimination and violence against the ex-untouchable groups continued in various ways. Dalit settlements in villages continued to be set apart from the main village. They were denied access to common source of drinking water. Dalit women were dishonoured and abused and worst of all, Dalits faced collective atrocities over minor, symbolic issues of caste pride. Legal mechanisms proved inadequate to stop the economic and social oppression of Dalits. On the other hand, political parties supported by the Dalits, like the Republican Party of India, were not successful in electoral politics. These parties always remained marginal; had to ally with some other party in order to win elections and faced constant splits. Therefore the Dalit Panthers resorted to mass action for assertion of Dalits’ rights.