Government gave dalits ‘raw deal’: Congress

Several MPs in the Opposition, especially from the Congress, attacked the Centre on Friday in the Lok Sabha, blamed the government for giving a raw deal to dalits. They cited the suicide by dalit scholar Rohith Vemula as a glaring example of the neglect of the community.

Participating in the discussion on demand for grants of social justice and empowerment ministry in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition lawmakers claimed that the ruling dispensation only paid lip service to B.R. Ambedkar and his ideals at a time when atrocities on dalits are growing.

Initiating the discussion, Santokh Singh Chowdhury of the Congress said Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have launched Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan with much fanfare, but has ignored the plight of the scavengers.

He claimed that still lakhs of scavengers are forced to clean unhygienic toilets as the government has earmarked a mere Rs 10 crore for helping them.

Dalit students are not getting scholarships for higher education as the scheme of post-matric scholarships is not properly implemented, Mr Chowdhury claimed.

Rohith Vemula’s suicide speaks volumes on the way dalits are treated in the education system, he said.

In a veiled attack on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remarks advocating a review of the reservation system, the Congress MP said, “The remote that runs the government speaks of review of reservation which is a matter of serious concern.”

Expressing concern over the growing atrocities on dalits, he wanted the Centre to monitor the schemes for the welfare of weaker sections.

However, BJP MP Hukmdev Narayan Yadav countered the Congress’ criticism by claiming that people with feudal mindset are agitated as the Prime Minister comes from a backward caste.

He alleged that the Congress never allowed any backward caste people to rise to hold the reins of the PM.

“Congress has always shown bioscope to the backward caste people,” Mr Yadav said.