Bharat Bandh: Mayawati calls BJP anti-Dalit, blames Centre for filing late review petition

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday blamed the Narendra Modi-led Centre for filing a delayed review petition against the Supreme Court’s verdict on the dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act), saying that there would be no Bharat Bandh if the petition was filed at an early stage.

Mayawati, while addressing the media over the growing violence in the Bharat Bandh, said, “The central government took a lot of time in filing the review petition against the Supreme Court verdict on the SC/ST Act. Had they filed the review petition in time, there wouldn’t be any protests or Bharat bandh.”

Adding that the minority communities were angry over the top court’s decision, she said, “The Dalit and Adivasi communities are angry over the Supreme Court judgment on the SC/ST Act. They have been raising this concern but the central government chose to keep mum.”

The BSP chief accused the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in casteism and caste politics and being anti-Dalits. She said, “The Backwards are not getting their Constitutional rights. BJP is always doing politics of caste. The Dalits today are going towards darkness. They are being deprived of promotion in jobs.”

Mayawati also condemned the violence created across various states, wherein a total of five people have been killed until now, while clarifying that the BSP has no role in the ongoing violence.

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She said, “The protest is justified. I support it. However, I have got to know that some people are spreading violence during the protests. I strongly condemn this. Our party is not behind the violence. I urge the authorities to initiate strong action against the culprits.”

She also slammed the Centre for misusing its powers against the Dalits and the minorities, she said, “The Dalits have been campaigning for their rights. Our party will not sit quietly if their voices are not heard.”

She termed the process of privatisation of government departments as ‘conspiracy’ and said, “The continuous privatisation of government department is also a conspiracy. BJP doesn’t want the Dalits to be promoted. All of this just makes it clear that the Narendra Modi-led government is against Dalits and backwards.”