Won’t tolerate dalit atrocities: Government

Facing severe criticism over the rise in crimes against dalits, including the derogatory remark against BSP supremo Mayawati by a BJP leader, the Narendra Modi government on Thursday asserted in Parliament that it would not tolerate such incidents at any cost. It rejected the Opposition’s charge that atrocities against the community had increased under NDA rule.

Replying to a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the rise in crime against dalits, Union home minister Rajnath Singh suggested such incidents cannot be tackled through laws alone and that a change in mindset is required. He condemned the thrashing of dalit youths in Una, Gujarat, by cow-protection vigilantes and also the abusive language used against Ms Mayawati by the now expelled UP BJP vice-president Dayashankar Singh. He said the Gujarat government had taken prompt action in arresting 16 accused and suspending four police officials, including an inspector, in the Una case. The Gujarat government is working to set up a special court to try this case within six months, he said.

The Opposition launched a fierce attack on the ruling BJP over growing attacks on dalits and other sections, saying a “Taliban-like attitude” prevailed in some parts of the country and that the “Gujarat model” had been thoroughly exposed. An unrelenting Ms Mayawati said Mr Dayashankar Singh’s sacking was not enough and that the BJP itself should have filed an FIR against him. She demanded that the Una incident inquiry be conducted by a fast-track court, and possibly by two judges, one of them a member of a Scheduled Caste. She also thanked all parliamentarians as well as chief ministers Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee, of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, respectively, for “unanimously condemning” Mr Dayashankar Singh’s remarks.

Mr Rajnath Singh, rejecting the Opposition charge that atrocities against dalits had increased in the last two years, said he could reel out figures of such incidents under Congress rule. He said incidents against dalits have taken place in all states and not only in Gujarat. “But these things will not help. We have to think about solutions,” said the home minister. Contending that such incidents occur due to a “perverted mindset which cannot be changed only through law”, he stressed the need for a social-cultural movement to change this mindset. He said political organisations would have to play an important part in changing this mindset and urged all parties to run social programmes to change the image of the political class.

The JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, who initiated the debate, demanded a ban on cow vigilantes. Condemning the Una incident, Mr Yadav said the incident revealed a “Taliban-like attitude” in the caste system and that it was a matter of shame that even after 70 years of independence atrocities against dalits, especially women, were increasing. “Who created these Gau Rakshaks Why doesn’t the government ban them What is this tamasha ... We talk about Taliban ... Our caste system has a Taliban-like attitude, we need to discuss that,” Mr Yadav said.

Supporting his statements, some Opposition members were heard saying the incident had exposed the real “Gujarat model” propagated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said while the government claims that India would become the world’s largest economy, the ruling party was isolating minorities and SC and STs, who together constitute more than 40 per cent of the country’s population. He also questioned the PM’s “silence” over such incidents and also on the recent violence in Kashmir. He said the BJP’s mindset seemed to have changed since it came to power two years ago. “It looks like as if the government is not worried, let Gujarat burn, let dalits die,” Mr Azad added.

The Congress’ Ahmed Patel expressed concern that there could be an effort to create communal tension ahead of the Assembly elections in Gujarat next year. Alleging that the BJP follows a policy of “divide and rule” and not “sabka saath, sabka vikas,” Mr Patel said the situation in his home state was “very explosive” and cautioned that without urgent steps the situation might “explode”. He said the Centre should not have the “arrogance of an absolute majority” and steps should be taken to reach out to people. He also asked why Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel met the victims only on Thursday even though the Una incident occurred over a week ago.

Charging the government with inventing “new avenues for attacks on dalits” ever since it came to power, the CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury claimed the ruling party’s mindset was “worrisome” and bolstered “obscurantism”. “I keep wondering that when it comes to dalits, there is diarrhoea of words and constipation of action. There are voluminous speeches but no action,” said Mr Yechury. Urging the government to encourage a “spirit of scientific temper” Mr Yechury it should stop promoting Hindu societal ideology where khap panchayats prevent inter-caste marriages and manual scavenging continues.

The Trinamul Congress’ Derek O’Brien said, “Let us all venerate the cow, but then why mock the cow-worker Superficial symbolism is BJP’s style. I think that PM Modi is trying to translate Ambedkar’s work, but sometimes the meaning is lost in the translation.” He condemned the derogatory language used against Ms Mayawati.

BSP supremo Mayawati said there is a disturbing trend of atrocities against dalits occurring when Parliament is in session. “The matter is discussed. Leaders give suggestions. In reality, nothing happens, just lip service is done,” she said.

The AIADMK’s A. Navaneethakrishnan said “abolishing untouchability is the only way to empower dalits” and demanded that the BJP leader who had abused Ms Mayawati be dealt with in accordance with the law.

In his intervention, Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale said the issue should not be made subject to politics and all parties should work together to abolish the caste system. On the Gujarat incident, he said the CM has supported the victims economically and has suspended the guilty police officials. Some Congress members accused him of trivialising the serious matter.

Congress member P.L. Punia said the increase in atrocities against dalits in recent times was a “matter of concern”. Mr Punia claimed the Una incident took place because of the complicity and negligence of the police and action should be taken against them. He said there was a delay by the Gujarat government in taking action.

BJP member Shambhuprasad Tundiya strongly condemned the incident in Una and said chargesheets would be soon filed in this case. Terming the incident a “heinous crime”, he said the conditions of dalits in Una was “very pathetic”. Mr Tundiya said the state government had taken prompt action and that the matter should not be politicised.

Referring to the derogatory remark against Ms Mayawati, the DMK’s Kanimozhi said: “If she has been targeted because she is following the path of B.R. Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram, then she should be proud of that. We are standing with her and she should continue this great work.”