Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati raised a case of Dalit oppression in the BJP-ruled Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha on Monday and demanded that the Centre ask the State to take tough action.
She said atrocities on Dalits had gone up across the country after the BJP came to power at the Centre, revealing the “casteist mindset” of the party.
Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told the chair that the BSP leader should speak on the issue rather than taking the name of a party.
“Some Dalits who deal in animal skins were attacked by members of the dominant castes in Una. Their shirts were taken off before they were beaten up. Then they were tied to a vehicle and dragged around,” Ms. Mayawati said.
“The police remained a mute spectator. The State government woke up to the horror only after the media reported the incident.”
The House was adjourned for ten minutes soon after, as some members stormed into the well. This happened just before noon when question hour begins.
