Political parties unite in support of dalit protests, say BJP responsible for pent up anger

NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party chief and dalit leader Mayawati said on Monday dalits and backward classes were being denied their rights under the BJP government. Condemning the violence during Bharat Bandh protests organised by dalit organisations, Mayawati also said Monday’s violence was instigated by anti-social elements and that the BSP cadres had nothing to do with them.
Supporting the protests against the Supreme Court’s decision to dilute the SC/ST Act, Mayawati said, “It is sad that some people have lost their lives. I condemn these acts of violence. The government should take stringent action.”

Political parties on Monday united in support of the dalit protests against the dilution of the SC-ST Act. Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed the BJP was targeting dalits. “It is in the DNA of the RSS/BJP to keep dalits at the lowest notch in the Indian society. Those who challenge this thinking are hit by violence. Thousands of dalit brothers and sisters are on the streets today demanding to protect their rights from the Modi government. We salute them.”

Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad also said the government did not take adequate steps to ensure that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was not weakened or diluted.

West bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, RJD scion Tejaswi Yadav, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and the Left parties also backed the dalit protests. Banerjee tweeted, “We are shocked and pained that some of my dalit brothers and sisters have been killed and injured. We support their cause. I appeal for peace,” she tweeted.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “Why has it taken such protests for the govt to file a review petition on the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act? If its intentions were honest, why did it not make the case properly in the Supreme Court in the first place?”

Yechury also raked up past instances of atrocities against the oppressed classes and said, “From Rohith Vemula to Una flogging and destruction of Ambedkar statues, we have seen how this government has dealt with issues pertaining to dalits. RSS-BJP ideology has been the driving force in targeting of dalits in this regime.”