Shoot me if you want, but don’t target Dalits, says Modi

Mr. Modi lashes out at fake cow vigilantes and warns them of stern action, for the second day running.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting at LB Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The Government will not tolerate atrocities or discrimination against the Dalits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. “We should put a full stop to it. You can shoot me rather than target the Dalits,” he thundered.

Speaking at a public meeting a Gajwel in Medak district on his first visit to Telangana to launch the first phase of the Mission Bhageeratha drinking water project, Mr. Modi lashed out at fake cow vigilantes and warned them of stern action, for the second day running.

Later, addressing a meeting of booth level party workers of the Telangana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here, Mr Modi spoke about forces trying to politicise Dalit issues.

Mr Modi advised the unnamed forces not to politicise Dalit issues as it would not only harm them but also society at large.

The Government has taken up several programmes for the well being of Dalits, including making it mandatory for banks to give them loans so that instead of “job seekers they can become job givers,” he said.

During his hectic tour that stretched well over five hours on his first-ever visit to Telangana on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi specifically referred to the issues of cow vigilantism and attacks on Dalits even as he emphasised the initiatives taken by his government on welfare and developmental front.

‘Don’t politicise attack on Dalits’

The Prime Minister was on his first visit to the State laid the foundation stones for five infrastructure projects apart from inaugurating the Bhageeratha Drinking water mission.

Later addressing party workers in Hyderabad, Mr Modi warned against the politicisation of attacks on Dalits. Pointing to the welfare measures of his government, he said, “Some people are pricked by our welfare programmes for the Dalits as other governments did not do anything and they are trying to politicise [the issue].”

Mr. Modi mentioned Dr. B.R. Ambedkar memorials being taken up in Mumbai and in New Delhi as also the government’s decision to purchase property in London where Dr. Ambedkar had stayed as indications of his government’s commitment towards Dalit’s cause.

The Dalit community is a vital part of the society. They had played a key role during the freedom struggle and later for the country’s development, said the Prime Minister.