BSP chief Mayawati backs Dalit protest against alleged dilution of SC/ST Act but condemns violence in UP

LUCKNOW: Coming out in support of protests against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act by the Supreme Court of India, BSP chief Mayawati on Monday condemned large-scale violence, which had gripped the districts of western UP, in the name of demonstrations. She claimed that some mischievous elements had sneaked in among the protestors and indulged in violence.

“This must be stopped at any costs. Such people should be identified and punished by the police administration,” said Mayawati while issuing a statement over the Bharat Bandh.

"I support the protest against the SC/ST Act. I have got to know that some people are spreading violence during the protests, I strongly condemn it. Our party is not behind the violence during the protests," state the BSP chief.

Calling the BJP-led Central and state governments as anti-Dalits, the BSP supremo accused the Centre of delaying the review petition against the SC ruling in SC/ST Act.

“If they had taken up the issue forcefully with due sincerity in time, this Bandh would not have happened,” said Mayawati. 

However, she added that Dalits and weaker sections of the society were not getting their Constitutional rights which were ensured by Dr BR Ambedkar.

Charging the BJP with adopting castiest approach to governance, the BSP supremo took the vow of continuing her struggle for the cause of Dalits. 

“What if I am not in Parliament, I will continue with our fight outside the Parliament and bring the central government on its knees over the issues plaguing the Dalit community."

"Dalits today are groping in darkness. They are being deprived of promotion in jobs as the BJP government were denying them their due,” she asserted.

Underlining the issue of privatisation of certain sectors like power, the BSP chief called it a conspiracy of the BJP government which did not want the Dalits to grow and prosper are promoted. 

“All of this substantiates the fact that Narendra Modi government is against Dalits and backwards,” she claimed.

Mayawati also cautioned the BJP and allies against leaders who are hopping parties just for the own good and had no hold whatsoever on the Dalit community.