Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has expressed concern over the continuing attacks on dalits in Telangana and other parts of the country and said the governments failed to protect the interests of the people from the marginalised communities.
Telangana was carved out after a series of struggles, but the situation in the newly-formed State was disappointing as it was reeling under the “dictatorial tendencies” of the TRS-led government, she said on Monday.
There was no freedom of speech and the people were not allowed to voice their views in the open, she alleged. In an informal chat with reporters here, Ms. Meira Kumar recalled how dalits were humiliated by sand mafia in Nerella while the legislature “undemocratically” expelled S.A. Sampath Kumar who hailed from Dalit community.
“The expulsion of Mr. Sampath Kumar from the House is unconstitutional,” she said recalling that the TRS had promised to make a dalit as Chief Minister before the elections.
But the party had in fact sacked a dalit who was made the deputy chief minister. She lamented that the attacks on dalits had been increasing by the day in the country and dalits were being treated as slaves.
The Central government had failed to take steps to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in spite of the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the issue.
She said the Congress would not remain mute spectator to these attacks and the party would highlight the injustice being done to these communities.
