As attacks against Dalits continued in Saharanpur, Opposition parties attacked the BJP for its government’s “inability” to curb the violence.
While the Congress said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had failed to ensure law and order in the State, the CPI(M) demanded strict action against perpetrators of violence. BSP supremo Mayawati said the Sangh Parivar is bent upon spreading casteist violence.
A certain constituency of the State’s population believed that Adityanath becoming CM had given them the licence to oppress Dalits, said the Congress’ Dalit Cell Chairman K Raju.
“They think the Chief Minister will provide them all necessary protection to allow them to commit any kind of atrocities on Dalits. It is not good for law and order in UP, it does not augur well for the development of Uttar Pradesh when such a section of society feels they can get away with murder and the weaker sections, the voiceless, the Dalits feel that they have no protection from the government,” Raju said.
The party demanded that the administration should immediately provide relief, rehabilitation and compensation to the Dalit victims. “All the accused will have to be arrested; the UP government has to set up a special court as envisioned under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 as amended in 2015,” the Congress leader demanded and urged the Chief Minister to convene a meeting of the Vigilance and Monitoring Committee as required by the Act.
The CPI(M) Politburo condemned the attacks on Dalits in Saharanpur and said certain upper caste elements sporting the colours of the Hindu Yuva Vahini had launched the attacks on people returning from a meeting addressed by BSP leader Mayawati.
“These attacks have come in the wake of the earlier assaults on Dalits in Shabbirpur in which houses were burnt, property destroyed and many persons injured. The steady deterioration in the situation is a result of the support the upper caste perpetrators of violence are receiving from the state government and the lack of will displayed by the administration for taking action against them,” the party said and demanded the government to take firm action against all those involved in the atrocities against the Dalits.
“The administration has to provide full protection to the vulnerable people. Adequate compensation must be paid to those who have suffered losses. The administration must withdraw false cases implicating dalits and their leaders,” the party’s statement said.
Govt apathy: Mayawati Mayawati said in a statement that neglect on the part of the administration was the reason that “BJP supporters” could target Dalits and unleash violence in the area. “After having damaged the communal atmosphere to gain political and electoral victory, mischievous and criminal elements in the BJP and RSS are now bent upon unleashing casteist violence,” the BSP chief said. “Innocents were being targeted while the administration is hand in glove with the BJP and RSS leaders,” she added.