Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Republican Party of India (A) chief, said on Saturday that Dalits were facing atrocities in many parts of the country. But he refused to lay the blame for it on the Centre and the BJP-ruled States.
Mr. Athawale, one of the most prominent Dalit leaders in the Modi cabinet, said, “Dalits are facing atrocities. The recent case in Saharanpur shows it is wrong to link the violence with the new BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. Dalits suffered violence even under the watch of the Samajwadi Party government. Uttar Pradesh is a State known for violence. Nowadays, Dalits are retaliating to the violence; they should refrain from it. There should be harmony among all communities. I would again reiterate that the State governments are not responsible for such incidents. These clashes are taking place because of caste rivalries. What happened in Saharanpur should not have happened.”
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Mr. Athawale praised the Narendra Modi government “for its three years of commendable work” and said Dalits were voting for the BJP in large numbers. He said, the Bharatiya Janata Party has become a party of bahujans (the majority) now.
“Narendra Modi’s leadership has made it difficult for any other party to emerge now. Even the Dalits are voting for the BJP and that is why the party is winning almost everywhere. It is a party of bahujans now.
“The Central government has done a lot of good work in the last three years and it took tough decisions such as demonetisation that benefited more than 80% of the people in the country. The PM has increased funds for memorials to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He also keenly follows Dr. Ambedkar’s economic policies,” he said.
‘ Reservation to stay’
He also accused the Congress of “spreading rumours” against the Modi government. “The Congress party is anxious and frustrated because of losing power. It is making false allegations that the government wants to change the Constitution and repeal the reservation for Dalits.
“The Constitution will never be changed. Only some amendments can be made. The reservation for Dalits will also stay. Those who want the reservation on the basis of caste repealed, should first make sure that caste is repealed,” he added.
