BJP and RSS has Anti Dalit Mindset – MP Selja Kumari
Mangaluru: “The assembly elections in Karnataka are nearing. I would like to shed light on the SC/ST issues which today are one of the main problems confronting the country and the BJP ruled states. While on one hand the BJP’s leadership especially the prime minister would like to appropriate the legacy of Dr Ambedkar and on the other hand the ground reality is that their attitude towards the SC/ST issues is different. BJP and the RSS has Anti Dalit mindset”, said the former cabinet minister, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the MP of Lok Sabha Selja Kumari in a press meet held at the DCC office, Mallikatta here on May 5.
Addressing the mediapersons Selja Kumari said, “Dr Ambedkar had given us the constitution but the Constitution always come under threat under the BJP rule. The weakest defence the SC/ST cases were not defended in the Supreme court. The government of India chose not to take the SC/ST cases seriously which resulted in adverse judgement. In 2013 the parliament was not working and we brought an ordinance. The NDA government led by PM Modi promulgated 13 ordinances but unfortunately the only ordinance that allowed to lapse was SC/ST prevention of Atrocities (POA) act. You can see on the one hand they say something but in reality, their commitment towards the SC/ST is mere lip service.”
Selja Kumari further said, “A delegation led by the AICC president Rahul Gandhi called President Ram Nath Kovind and discussed on the dilution of the provisions of the Act. Under the rule of BJP, the budget for SC/ST came down to 5%. When the UPA government was in power, we had allocated Rs 800 crore for the SC/ST according to their population. Look at the protection in Unnao and Kathua. The legislative involved in Unnao rape case but the administration did not take any action. They do such things but there is no apology nor any action. In the Kathua rape case, they tried to give communal colour to the incident. And those perpetrators playing the caste card openly were involved in the crime. They were not just protected but were promoted. Is this the kind of Mahila Suraksha “Beti Bachao, Beti Padao”. They use all kind of slogans, but our slogan is ‘Beti ko Bachao from these people’. What example are they giving? The PM is going to different states and countries where he delivers speeches on protecting women but in the BJP ruled states women are not protected. We do not know to lie but BJP is not speaking the truth. (Hameh Jute nahi Bolna atha, aur BJP such nahi boltha)”.
Jaiveer Shergill, Suresh Shetty and others were also present.