Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Congress, SP, says they supported violence, disrupted peace

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday slammed the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and other Opposition parties, and said that they supported violence and disrupted the peace of the country.

Prasad, along with Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and other Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, was addressing the media at the party’s headquarters in Delhi.

Both Prasad and Gehlot spoke on the recent violence complained at the time of ‘Bharat Bandh’, which killed at least 11 people, and the aftermath effects of the nationwide shutdown.

Prasad, while addressing the media, criticized the Opposition and said that they are indulging in politics in the name of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Prasad said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar had said that the Dalit movement should neither be violent nor it will happen. The Dalit rights should be empowered, but they it should not be through the path of violence.”

Lashing the Opposition of creating ruckus, he added, “A large number of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward, neglected and poor from all over the country are associated with BJP. Hence, the Opposition is creating ruckus and politics in the name of Dalits.”

Also Read: Bharat Bandh has left BJP scared, says BSP chief Mayawati

“Our party is working to strengthen the SC/ST Act. This is being opposed by Rahul Gandhi,” Prasad said while directly attacking the Congress president.

Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, who was also present in the conference, supported Prasad’s words and slammed Congress. Gehlot said, “The Congress has always tricked the interests of the Dalits. If there is any party favouring the interests of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes in the country, it is BJP.”

“Fearing the rising mass support for Modi ji, the Opposition is spreading bitterness, casteism, communalism, and philology in the country.”

The press conference comes after BSP chief Mayawati slammed the BJP-led Centre and blamed them for the Bharat Bandh called by the Dalit groups and said that it had scared the party.

Mayawati said, “Bharat Bandh protest was largely successful. This has left the BJP scared and authorities in the BJP ruled states have started atrocities towards dalits. Many dalits and members of their families are being arrested. I believe the proud Dalit communities will not forgive the selfish BJP Dalit MPs.”