Discussion in Lok Sabha on atrocities against Dalits

Andalib Akhter /

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today assured the members in Lok Sabha that government was committed to prevent atrocities on Dalits it wanted to empower them socio-economic development.

Replying to a five-hour long discussion in Lok Sabha on the atrocities against dalits in the country, Rajnath said that rising of such incidents were challenge before the society.

Mr. Singh sought cooperation of all political parties and the state governments in this regard.

Urging the parties not to politicize the issue, the Home Minister said, law and order is a state subject and his ministry has issued an advisory to the states to take strict action against those involved in committing crimes against dalits in the name of cow protection.

On criticism of Prime Minister not speaking in Parliament on the issue, Mr Singh wanted to know from the opposition how many Prime Ministers in the past have spoken on every issue.

Quoting Swami Vivekananda, the Home Minister said, India cannot progress unless its poor and downtrodden are empowered. He said Constitution has provision to empower dalits, but there is a need to do more things in this regard. Mr Singh said Modi government has taken several new initiatives to empower dalits which were unheard of previously.

Referring to Una incident of Gujarat where dalits were attacked, Mr Singh said, the incident was condemnable and the state government made arrests in the case and also suspended some police officials for dereliction of duties.

Referring to several dalit scholars and social reformers, the Home Minister said, India can never forget the immense contribution of the community to the Indian society.

Dissatisfied with the reply Congress members staged a walkout from Lok Sabha.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, P K Biju of CPI(M) claimed that the atrocities against  Dalits have increased 44 per cent in the last three years and asked the government to protect their rights.

Referring to recent Una dalit attack incident, Mr. Biju said why action is not being taken against cow vigilantes when the Prime Minister himself had said majority of the cow protection groups indulge in unlawful activities.

He said there is a need to send a strong message to the cow vigilantes. Congress MP K H Muniyappa alleged that ever since BJP led government came to power, atrocities against Dalits have increased. He said the community has lost its confidence in the present regime.

Udit Raj of BJP said the root cause of atrocities is the social thinking of the people and until it will change, the problem cannot be addressed.
Listing several such incidents in the past during Congress rule, Mr. Raj rejected the allegation that it has increased during BJP regime.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has categorically made it clear that the government is against the people who are involved in hooliganism in the name of cow protection.

The member also blamed the judicial system for not taking up atrocities cases promptly and said such a situation has encouraged the people to commit unlawful acts against  Dalits.

Intervening in the discussion, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan blamed Congress for the backwardness and under development of Dalits. He said, Congress always tried to undermine Dr B R Ambedkar’s contribution to the nation.

Saugata Roy of TMC said there is no dearth of laws in the country to prevent atrocities against  Dalits but there is a lack of be strict implementation.

He called for setting up special courts in the country for trial of criminal cases of atrocities against Dalits. Mr Roy demanded ban on Vishwa Hindu Parishad and bogus Cow protection groups.

Bhartruhari Mehtab of the BJD stressed the need for social reforms to find out a solution to the problem. He said, political parties must work together to bind the society and not play politics of caste and religion. He said law alone cannot beat atrocities against Dalits but there must be a fear of law.

Intervening in the discussion, Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu said political parties should introspect into themselves and not politicize the  Dalits  issue.

Mr Naidu said the present government has done a lot for the betterment of poor, villagers, farmers and women across the country.

He called for spreading social harmony. Expressing concern over the recent incident, Mr Naidu said it is high time for everyone to condemn such incidents.

Jyotiraditya Scindia of Congress blamed the NDA government for the increase in the numbers of incidents of atrocities against Dalits.