Amarinder Singh slams attack, questions PM’s silence

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt. Amarinder Singh on Thursday condemned the incidents of violence against the dalits in different parts of the country.

“There appears to be a dangerous pattern in the verbal and physical abuse and violence against the dalits everywhere which is either being ignored or encouraged at the peril of sparking off a caste war in the country,” Capt. Amarinder warned in a statement issued here on Thursday.

Questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter, he wondered as to why he has not intervened till now. “How can you shut your eyes when your fellow countrymen are being treated with such brutality and cruelty,” he asked the Prime Minister.

Referring to the flogging and parading of three dalit youth in a Gujarat town by some self-styled “cow protection” vigilante groups, the PCC president said that there was genuine anger and outrage, not only among the dalits alone, but also among all the well-meaning Indians about the direction the country is taking.

Capt. Amarinder also condemned the abusive language used by UP BJP vice-president Daya Shankar Singh against BS chief Mayawati, saying it was most condemnable and deplorable. He said that no punishment will be enough for the person who used such language against the former UP chief minister.

Expressing concern over such incidents, the former chief minister suggested that the Prime Minister should personally intervene in the matter.

“Given the alarming sensitivity of the situation, it calls for urgent intervention at the highest level lest the country is pushed into caste war,” he warned.

The PCC president also announced that the Congress party will stage protests across the state against the violence and atrocities against the Dalits. The protests will be held at all the district headquarters on Sunday, while he will personally lead a protest in Kartarpur.