Monsoon session: BSP protests atrocities against Dalits in Gujarat

Rajya Sabha witnessed a brief adjournment on the opening day of Monsoon session as BSP members trooped into the Well alleging atrocities on dalits in BJP-ruled Gujarat. Soon after laying of papers when the Question Hour began, BSP chief Mayawati raised the issue of recent incident in which some members of the dalit community, engaged in skinning dead animals, were beaten up in Gujarat.

She said some anti-social elements tied their hands, stripped them and beat them up in a market in broad daylight.  The police did not take immediate action and the crowd too did not intervene, the BSP leader alleged and blamed the state government too for not taking prompt action against the culprits.

Accusing the ruling BJP of being ‘anti-dalit’, she said the state police swung into action only after the incident was highlighted by the media.

This shows the “anti-dalit mindset” of the BJP, she said and alleged that such incidents of atrocities against dalits have increased ever since the BJP-led government has come to power at the Centre.

Countering the allegations, Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the “saviour” of the entire country and said that as per convention, name of any political party should not be taken while raising issues.

As Mayawati was speaking on atrocities against dalits, some BSP members trooped into the Well raising slogans.

Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for ten minutes. Earlier, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) pointed out that he has given a notice for adjournment of Question Hour for taking up the issue of rising prices.